"Spike?" Willow whispered as she slowly creaked open the door of the vampire's room. She looked inside, straining to see in the darkness. Her eyes widened, mouth dropping as well when she took in the sight before her. Her tongue wet her lips automatically at the sight of the bare chested male on the bed, the black satin sheets riding low, barely covering his private parts. One leg was stuck out from the sheets, her eyes trailing up the white skin and pouting when the sheet came into view, covering what she *really* wanted to see. She stepped inside, slowly closing the door again until it was only open a crack. She tip-toed over to the bed to get a better view but found that when she got there she was reminded by the light that was lacking to see him properly. She started to grumble a few things then heard the bed shift. She squealed lightly as she was pulled down and held in place by two strong arms. Spike's face nuzzled her neck and he let out a sigh. After a few minutes, "Spike?" She asked in a whisper. He was asleep?! Wait, he was asleep! Maybe he was asleep to begin with. No time for that now! Right now it was time to make the daring getaway. She tried to pull his arms away from her but they just slipped down to hold her waist. She looked upwards before her eyes rolled back and she let out a tiny groan, his hand was massaging the skin that was left bare after she'd been pulled in the bed with Spike. In bed with Spike. Why escape? She mentally slapped herself and tried to focus on why she was in here. <To get a peek at Spike naked. Hmmm... he's naked right now and he's holding me. I like these thoughts.>

She closed her eyes and snuggled back into the vampire's arms. The green orbs shot open once more. <No! Daring escape! Task at hand! He's your
*friend*!> She started to stroke Spike's arms in hopes they'd let go... only to find they tightened around her. She rolled her eyes and rolled over to face him. She gasped when she felt something a friend wouldn't normally feel pressing into her thigh. <Maybe I could stay a-a... *little* while.> She smiled down at his closed eyes. He shifted again so he wasn't pressing against her as hard. She lost all contact barr with his arms and feet. The girl pouted. <Oh great.> His eyes started to flutter and she bit her bottom lip. <He's going to wake up and wonder why I'm in here. No, he's going to wake up and wonder why I'm *in his bed*! He's going to think I'm-I'm... spying on him... in all his naked glory.> She added with a tiny grin. She gave herself a few soft slaps on the forehead.

Spike's eyes opened wearily. He closed them again before his eyes shot open. He turned around partially and looked around the room then back to Willow. <Yep, still my room. What'd I do last night?> "Red? What'd we do?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, no, nothing. Nuh-uh." She gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry."

"Let me guess... there's a storm and you were scared, no... no, you live on the hellmouth. There's not much left to be scared of." Willow went to speak but he interrupted. He looked at her studiously. "Money?" She nodded.

"I need a credit card."

"That's it, Pet. One more thing I have to get you is your own bank account." He reached behind him to the nightstand and grabbed his torn and tattered wallet, pulling out a card and handing it to her. She jumped out of the bed and headed for the door. "Not that I mind the little visits." He added with a grin, knowing it would make her blush. She turned a deep shade of red, like expected and hurried out the door.

Spike chuckled then went back to sleep.

*^*^*

Willow walked down the isles of the shopping center, trying to find the perfects things for the house. Coming to the end of her row she looked left and right only to see Buffy and Xander. She quickly looked around for a place to hide. How was she supposed to get away from them while Buffy wouldn't stop asking if she could see the house. Knowing the slayer she'd probably break in and have a look around, trying to find her house-mate and find out who he was. Or maybe she was just paranoid. Diving back into her isle she started looking around for things that might hide her. Down the other end that she had come from was a tent display. Perfect. She jogged down, slipping into the tent and keeping low as Buffy and Xander came and went. She sighed a breath of relief as she stepped out. "Oh goddess that was close." She looked up to see one of the important store people looking at her sternly with his arms crossed, tapping his foot. "Uh, nice tents. Very roomy." She gave him a fake smile before rushing away, blushing like mad.

Another ten minutes later Willow had a few items in her shopping basket and she started moving past the next section of the store. She threw a
glance over when something caught her eyes. Her eyes lit up as she moved in and picked them off the hanger. "Perfect." She grinned and made her way over to the check-out, searching around and hoping both Xander and Buffy had gone or wouldn't see her at the least.

She put her items down on the check-out as the lady behind the counter rang up the items. She picked up Willow's last choice and smiled, raising her eyebrows. "Something for the man?" She asked with a wink.

Willow blushed, trying to look down. "He's just a friend." She said as she paid for the items and hurried back out of the store. As she took the bus back a block from her house she started thinking of what the woman had said and what had happened earlier that morning... and every time she was with Spike for that matter. <'Something for the man?', 'Humor me, Luv' Spike said after picking her up and carrying her in the house, 'You think I'm cute?', 'Just let me spoil you and don't say a word, S.', 'Le Château de la nuit rouge', 'C'est l'heure du lit, ma douce petite fille' - whatever *that* means.> Only 6 more hours until sunset. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to get everything done before Spike woke up for dinner. *She* was cooking tonight.

*^*^*

It took the better part of 5 hours to finish everything. A few times she was *sure* Spike had to have woken up but continued when he didn't come downstairs to yell at her, or even lean over the railing to do it. That was another thing she liked about the place. As you walk in the door, walk for about 11 or 12 meters and the 'balcony' that attached to the stairs was above you. She loved it. It was like something out of one of those old fantasy movies with the big beautiful gowns and the lovely dancing. She sighed dreamily, just picturing it... in their house. She snapped out of her thoughts as her watch beep. It's was already 4:30pm. 1 hour left. <Enough time to cook dinner.> She smiled and headed for the kitchen, that was situated to the right after walking through the door.

It was nestled in the corner with the dining table right next to it. The living room was behind the dining room, with a wall blocking the view for privacy, the thick, heavy wooden door to allow to keep the noise in that room and that room only, which she was glad of because of Spike's insistence on blaring his music as loud as it could go, while jumping around the room 'dancing'. She snickered as she pulled out some ingredients for the meal she was about to prepare.

45 minutes later, dinner was only a few minutes off. Willow smiled at her work and grabbed the package she had bought for Spike, she jogged up the stairs with the present in hand and walked into his room touching his lamp and turning it on to a dim glow. Her eyes widened when she saw the top of his butt. <If only it would move down just a little more.> She grinned, thinking of a spell but stopped herself before she could. They were friends. She quickly dropped the present on the empty side of the bed, closest to the door, before walking back out and going downstairs.

*^*^*

Spike woke up, rolling over to see a bright pair of boxers in front of him. He picked up the note on top. 'Humor me.' He rolled his eyes before they caught the pattern. Little suns, crosses and stakes were covering them. He chuckled and looked inside at the tag. "K-novelty Knickers." He read then gave out a sigh before hopping out of bed and putting them on. He absently wondered how she knew his size as he walked out of the room and downstairs.

*^*^*

Willow looked up when she heard him. He was rubbing his face tiredly but the only thing she was looking at were the new boxers she had bought him. Okay, so she wasn't looking at the boxers. The things underneath were much more interesting... just sadly out of view. "Hi, Spike." She greeted cheerily.

"Afternoon, Ducks." He walked over to her and gave her a swat on the backside before going to the fridge. He stopped mid-opening it and sniffed the air. His eyes closed. "Ail pain." He moaned the French words as he turned to the oven to go and open it.

"I guess you mean 'garlic bread'." She said sweetly, watching him open it.

"Oui, petit chat." He grinned at her, taking a wiff of the aroma wafting out of the open oven door.

Willow walked up, shutting it. "It'll get cold." She scolded. "What's petit chat?"

"Kitten." He answered. The vampire gave her his puppy dog eyes. "Can I have a taste?"

"No. You have to wait. I have spaghetti bolognaise on the stove so go and sit. Shoo!"

"Uh, Pet? If you were hoping for French... spaghetti is Italian."

She pouted. "I know but I don't know any French meals and all my cookbooks are Italian or other general stuff."

When dinner was served and eaten they both sat in the lounge room on the couch watching the tv. That girl was on. Willow liked to watch the show just so she could compare it to real life and see just how different it was. Spike liked to watch it so he could laugh at how wrong it 'clearly'
was. Even if only to them. 'Bessie the Demon Killer' was a regular riot to the Scoobies and any other person with knowledge of the supernatural
that watched it. '1 girl in all the world' was probably the only thing the show got right. Another vampire was staked and disappeared in a grand flash of light. Both people on the couch rolled their eyes. If only the writers knew the truth.
 

~Part 11~

"Come on, Pet. Get your ass in 'ere now." Spike called out. No answer. "Red!" Still no answer. "Kitten, Ducks, Luv, Sweets, Baby, Princess... Willow!"

Finally Willow walked out of her room in a t-shirt and pair of overalls. "You know my name?!" She said with a mock gasp.

The vampire rolled his eyes as he gestured inside the elevator. "Come on! I bloody well wanna know what's up there." He whined in a very un- vampire like way, watching as Willow giggled at him before putting on her serious face.

"You've had ages to find out." She muttered as she stepped inside with him. Spike hit the button for the second floor and waited for it to take
them up. A few moments later the doors started to creak open slowly, straining from the lack of use it had for this floor. A gush of dust swept down at their feet as the doors finished opening. Willow coughed and sputtered a bit as some of it blew up and into her throat. Her blond friend gave her a few pats on the back to help her. "Thanks." She croaked out. "Wow." She mumbled as her eyes widened at the sight of the room before them.

"That chit that sold us this place said it was haunted. Wouldn't put it past the 'ellmouth. 'Eh, Pet?" His head was stuck in a brochure though. "'Ey, this bit says its a 'fixer upper'. Yeah, that usually means its unsafe or somethin'." Willow was in a trance though. She hit him on the arm, keeping her gaze on the space ahead of her though like she was under it's spell. "What?" He looked up and saw the room. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere but that didn't make it any less stunning. A mini-grand piano was in the far corner, dusted over from lack of use. Other instruments were placed around the room. A cello, two violins that were placed on an old fashioned leather sofa, a clarinet, flute, guitar that look much newer than the rest of the items. Willow began wondering if the Sunnydale University's band equipment was missing. "We're going to be spending a lot more money before this whole place is fixed up, aren't we?" He looked down at Willow with a pout.

"You have enough of it!" She scolded, giving him a light backhanded slap on his stomach as she moved into the room and over to the smaller
musical items, enchanted by everything she saw. "I really wish I knew how to play an instrument." She sighed, picking up the flute. "I've heard some really weird stories about what you can do with this." She grinned, as she started to blush.

Spike poked her in the ribs, making her yelp in surprise. He gave her a wicked grin. "Why use the flute? There are other instruments in this house in *perfect* working order." He winked at her as he walked away, over to the piano. He checked inside to see the chords. Everything looked in order. <Wonder if everything *sounds* in order.> He thought, sitting down and striking the 'middle c' key. <Not bad for something that looks as old as me.> He smirked, hitting another key. Then another. Another again. It sounded great. <How the hell can it sound like that without someone up 'ere to tune it?> With a shrug he started to play.

The red head that had been looking at the violins looked up suddenly. A smile spread across her face when she heard Spike playing 'Dance of the
Sugar Plum Fairies' by Tchaikovsky. "You know how to play the piano?" She asked.

The vampire stopped and blinked a few times. "Yeah, but I haven't played *that* song in years. I thought I forgot it." He stared at the keys and
watched as his vision blurred slightly. They keys looked like they were moving. Willow walked over and sat beside him, watching the keys like he was but not seeing them playing. She ran a finger over one of the keys and pressed down. Spike snapped out of his thoughts and his vision cleared. "'Ey, 'ow about we give this a break, Pet. Go down and get something to eat before we clean this up. 'eah?"

The witch nodded, jumping up and walking towards the elevator to wait for him. The vampire stared at the spot just above the keys and suddenly
saw a face move out of it. He jumped back slightly. The face scowled at him. Shaking his head, the vision of the face disappeared. He looked at
the piano oddly for a moment before walking towards the elevator where Willow was. "Do you think the stairs are usable?"

"Huh?"

"The stairs. I mean, this place doesn't look very used, do you think the stairs would be? Or would they have kinda rotted?" She pressed the button to go down to the ground level.

Spike looked back at the room one more time but saw nothing. He looked down at his witchy little friend and sighed. "We'll check 'em out after lunch, Ducks." He looked up as the doors closed, for once he was spooked. Their was a *slight* chance... their house was haunted.

*^*^*

Something was wrong with that place. Something very wrong. That must've been why it was so dusted over with cobwebs and all. No one would go
up there. No one wanted to. Maybe people *did*... but they never came back. Maybe... "Spike." The vampire snapped out of his thoughts as
Willow called him. He looked up to see her worried and curious face staring at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin', Pet. Just thinking." He took another mouthful of the blood from his mug.

"You? Thinking? Spike, that *is* bad." She smiled, cleaning off her plate.

"How so?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, whenever you think it's to plot against us. You know, maybe if you *didn't* think everything out... things would work better." She put her plate to dry on the dish-rack on the sink.

He smiled back at her, gulping down the rest of the red liquid. "You want me to kill you friends?"

"No! No, never!" She protested.

The blond stood. "Oh I think you do. I think sometimes... you would really like me to not have this chip in my 'ead so I could drain 'em dry or snap their necks. Wouldn't you?" He asked, standing and grinning at her.

The witch rolled her eyes, throwing her arms up with an exasperated sigh. "Yes. Okay, sometimes. Not all the time. Just when they annoy me a lot." She gave him an evil look when he gave her a victorious smile. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" He asked innocently as he headed for the stairs.

"You know *exactly* what, mister!" She yelled at him as she followed after him. <Cute butt. Yes, wiggle your thing. Ahh!> She gulped, looking down at her feet as they started on the next level of the staircase.

"Oh do I?" He teased with a chuckle. "Pet, you should know me better."

"Oh, I know you all *too* well, Spike. You-you... vicious killer, you!" The girl grumble, storming ahead of him a few steps, pouting as she went.

Spike caught one of her arms and spun her around, almost making her fall down the few stairs between them as she lost her balance. Luckily she
regained her footing and stood with only two steps between them. "You know I'd never hurt or kill you right?"

Willow looked unsurely at him. "What if you get the chip out?" She asked in a tiny voice.

"I promise..." Willow interrupted with a roll of her eyes and a tiny groan. "'Ey! What's so bad about my promises?"

"You promised Buffy you'd leave Sunnydale."

"And I did." He stated. "I never said I'd never come back."

"Yeah, and you came back *twice*."

Spike slumped his shoulders over-dramatically and let out a tiny growl. "Pet, you have to trust me now. There's no way we can live together when
you're going to be hiding stakes everywhere."

"And if you lose the chip? What then? I can just let you kill me?"

"I won't." He unknowingly vamped out as the growled words escaped him.

Willow stepped back a bit, shaking her arm from his grasp. "And if you get angry?" She waved her arm to indicate his features. "What then?"

Spike touched his face, feeling the ridges underneath the tips of his fingers showing him his demon was coming forth from under his control. He immediately changed back to his smooth human face. Taking a calming breath he started to talk again in a softer, more controlled voice. "I'm sorry but I can't help some things. I can stop from killing you, I can stop from hurting you, but I can't stop my demon being a part of me." He looked up at her. "If you can't handle that then maybe living together was a bad idea."

"What? Spike, I'm fine with your demon... I just... if you get the chip out and decide that this talk we're having is all a joke then I'm in danger. I don't like danger. I like my life. For once... it's how I want it to be." She turned and started walking up the steps again.

"Luv." He stopped her, waiting for her to turn but all that happened was her stopping in her tracks, still staring at the ground in front of her. "I could never hurt you. My demon couldn't either. I wouldn't move in here with you if I could hurt you. With or without the chip." He saw her head move in a nod before she continued up the stairs. He sighed as he started to walk up to the third floor.

*^*^*

"This wall has to go." Spike muttered as he waved a hand at the metre wide wall over to the far left of the room. He turned to see her move to cello over in the opposite corner.

Willow dusted her hands off as she looked over. "Mmmm, and the bench in the next room." She added. "It's just in the way."

"I don't know. It could be useful." He walked over to her, dusting his own hands.

"How? It's just a piece of hollow wood in the middle of the room. What good could it do?"

"Plenty." He stated, moving over to the piano again. "Where you wanna move this before we start?"

The witch looked around. "Not near the elevator and not near the stairs." She turned back to face the stairs that were situated right in the middle of the wall. She turned her head right. One or two metres from the corner of the wall adjacent to the stairs was where the elevator was. The doors were closed, showing all the dust that had collected on the outside of it. "What colour should we make this place?"

"You're choice." He turned quickly. "Just not pink. Or any other pansy colour. Right?" She nodded at him with a smile. "Oh and no bleedin' pastels either."

"Why not? They're cute." She grinned, walking over.

"Exactly!" He exclaimed. "I'm William the Bloody! I will *not* live in a house that has pastels!"

The red head took another step over. "I was thinking baby blue." She tried to stop her grin from widening. "With pretty pink carpeting. Oh, and why not have a light lemon ceiling."

Spike made a look of disgust. "Pet, no! Cor, luv, that's 'orrible! Blue walls, yellow ceiling and pink floors. Oh, yeah, sure!" He snapped sarcastically. "I'd rather move in with Peaches and he has *no* taste."

"He has okay taste." Willow defended, moving towards the stairs.

The vampire chuckled, running over so he was standing in front of her. "Let me get something straight. He has bad taste in women. Darla, Monique, Gypsy girl, Aurora, Buffy! He has bad taste in decorating his house. He mixes Cordelia's fashion sense with his medieval weapons. I say... stick with the weapons, lose the high-priced sofa and lamps. Bad taste in allies. You lot. You people whipped him!"

"And we have our eyes set on you." She smiled sweetly, pushing past him and walking for the stairs again.

Spike once again stood in her way. "Oooooooh no you don't." He put one hand on her shoulder to keep her at bay. "You *have* seen his hair
haven't you? He and his secretary probably fight over the hair gel!"

"Says you, *blondie*!" She quipped, pushing past him again. "But that's not what your roots say!" She called out, descending the stairs.

"What about my roots?" He asked, touching his hair in an almost self-conscious way.

"They're showing!" She smiled, stopping half-way down to the first floor. "You want a drink?"

"Yeah, a beer." He replied, still touching his hair as he walked back over to the wall. He pouted when his back was turned. "My roots are showing." He said. "Bloody hell." The vampire grumbled, walking into the next room. "Pansy assed, whipping, momma's boy." He growled. "I'm turning into Paingel." The vampire groaned, slamming his fist onto the bench in the middle of the room.

*^*^*

Willow was walking back up the stairs with a smile on her face as she thought of more things she could say to Spike that would get the perfect
reaction. A can of Coke in one hand, a beer in the other, she made her way up the last few steps. Looking up, her heart skipped a beat as she
took a gulp of saliva that was going to threaten to turn into a line of drool down her mouth. Her head tilted to the side as she studied the image before her. Spike. Spike with his shirt off. Spike with his shirt off pulling the piano along on it's tiny wheels, closer to the other instruments to the right of her. Her eyes closed into half-slits as she saw his muscles rippling. A tiny whimper escaped her.

Spike turned his head to see behind him at hearing the sound and smiled. "So, you're allowed to stand there while I do all the hard labor? Sure that's fair?" He asked, stopping what he was doing to go and get his drink from her.

"Perfectly." She cooed, still not out of her trance. The vampire moved forward, snapping his fingers in front of her face, watching her come back to reality. She coughed and shoved the beer towards him as she lowered her head and walked past him to go to the next room.

The blond bit his bottom lip, turning and almost skipping as he followed her, but he refrained. After all, he was William the Bloody. <William the
Bloody does *not* skip.> He gave out a soft girly giggle as he walked into the room, knowing the reason Willow had almost been drooling on her shoe. Why did he feel so giddy now? <Christ, I'm turning into a bleedin' school girl.> He flipped the top off his beer, taking a swig as he leant against the doorway. His head tilted to the side as he watched her try and busy herself. The witch looked over into the corner, concentrating on
making one of the tools fly to her. As it started to glide through the air towards Willow, Spike's eyes started going wide. "How long have you known
how to do that?" He asked just barely above a whisper.

Willow's head turned quickly towards him, making her lose her concentration, and the tool she had wanted to fall. "Uh, I'm still practicing." She
replied, rubbing the back of her neck, keeping her eyes downcast from the sight of the half-naked man she was living with that was standing in the doorway, almost looking like one of those men that posed for teen-girl magazines. "Tara's teaching me."

<Tara.> Spike thought angrily. <She could take my Willow from me.> He added. <My Willow. I like... no, I *would* like the sound of that *if* I was a whipped puppy.> There was a yelp as Puppy Spike ran in and over to Willow, rolling onto it's back.

The red head smiled down at the white puppy and knelt down next to it to scratch his tummy. "Hello, Spikey. What? You want a tummy rub, do you?" She started to baby-talk the dog again as she rubbed it's tummy.

The dog looked up at Spike and gave him a dog's version of a grin. "Don't mock me, Mutt." Spike growled, walking out of the room with his beer
still in his hand. "Stupid dog." He added as he went and sat against one of the far walls. Spike junior started to trot out of the other room with his head held high. "I know what you're doing. It's not working." The dog stopped a few feet from the vampire and yawned before continuing to trot
towards the stairs. "Stupid dog." He muttered with a frown, taking another swig from his bottle. "Spike junior." He stated. "Damn dog. Stupid
bloody mongrel. White piece of fluff. Goddamn, bloody, piece of..." He continued to swear about their dog until Willow re-entered the main part of the 2nd floor.
 

~Part 12~

Buffy looked up from her seat at the Bronze and saw Willow standing at the door. She smiled widely, waving her friend over. "Hey, Wills! I haven't seen you in *ages*! Where've you been?"

Willow sat beside her friend. "Oh, you know. Fixing up the house. We spent a whole three days fixing up *one floor*." She smiled, waving to Xander who was out on the dance-floor embarrassing... ahem, dancing with Anya.

"One floor?" The slayer's eyes were wide. "How many floors are there?"

"Three." Willow smiled proudly. "It's a dream home, Buffy. Oh, it's *so* beautiful. I wish you could see it. It's fantastic."

"Then why don't I? I'm free tomorrow. I could come by then?" She suggested craftily.

The witch frowned. "Buffy, you know you can't. If you saw my house-mate... well... just... it's not possible. Okay? Trust me." The girl rested her hand on the blond's arm. "Please just trust me." She said in a small voice.

"I trust you, Wills." Smiled the slayer. "I just wanna see your house." She added innocently. "And if your house-mate is so bad that I can't see him..." Willow gave the girl a 'drop it' look. "Okay, okay." Buffy defended with a defeated frown. She turned to look at Willow again. A pout formed on her face.

Willow turned, seeing Buffy's best puppy-dog face. "Buffy, not even *that* will work. I'm sorry but you just can't. It's... impossible. My house-mate is fine. I'm fine. The house is fine. You're fine. Xander and Anya are fine. We're all fine. Can we just drop it now?" She pleaded.

Buffy nodded her head, still looking sadly at her friend. "Wills, you moved out. I have a right to know why and to where."

"No. It's my life, Buff. I give out the 'right's."

The slayer gave her a hurt look. "Your life that I'm a part of." She added.

"You're always going to be a part of my life, Buffy, just not this part of it. This is top secret. It's my special part. You have that part in you too somewhere. Everyone does. Xander and Anya have their part. You and Riley have yours."

"Are you not letting me in the house because you and that guy are dating?" Buffy asked with shock. "You won't let me know where you live because I might run in on you two doing it on the couch?!"

The red head blushed to match her hair colour. "Oh, no, Buffy. No! Oh goddess, no. We're just friends. Honest. I mean, yeah, he's hot... well, gorgeous really. He has a nice body." Willow started to drift off into her dream world once more. "I mean, when he was moving the piano... and his muscles were just... rippling. I could eat him up with a spoon. And he has the most *intense* eyes." She swooned. Xander's fingers snapped in front of her face, making her snap out of her daydream. "What?" She asked.

"You were babbling about some guy and how intense his eyes were." The boy stated.

"And how his muscles rippled." Anya piped in. "Do they ripple like Xander's?" She asked, sipping at the drink she and Xander had bought after they left the dance-floor.

"Oh... better." Gushed the witch. "He's amazing." She looked out into space for a few seconds. "Ah, but a friend! Friend only. Only friend. Yup. Nothing there other than the friendly kind of friendship." Babbled Willow. She crossed her arms on the table and let her head fall down onto them. "I think my house-mate is cute and it's wrong."

"Why? Is he... you know... gay?" Buffy whispered to her friend.

Willow looked up again. "No! I mean... well, I don't know." She started to ponder the idea. "I have to go." She grabbed her coat and raced for the door.

"I want to meet him. He sounds nice." Anya stated as the three of the people left at the table stared at the door where Willow had once gone
racing through.

*^*^*

Willow walked through the front door and looked around. As she closed it behind her she took her jacket off, throwing it on the nearby coat rack. She started walking further into the house, hearing the tv going in the lounge room and headed for it. Pushing the door fully open she licked her lips. <He's doing this on purpose.> She thought as she stared at him laying on the couch with only his boxers on, staring intently at the tv screen with Junior on his lap. "Spike." She called. Two heads turned from the tv and looked at her. "Not you Junior. William." She looked at the vampire. She tried not to stare at his body, trying her hardest to focus on his face. "Uh... I have a few questions."

Spike rolled his eyes, flipping off the tv and looking at her expectantly. "You know, every time you see those pals of yours you come back with questions. Are you sure you're not just being sucked into telling them stuff about me?"

The red head was about to protest before the question fully sank in. She frowned. "Hey yeah." She said with a frown. "But still! I wanna know a
few things. I mean... honestly... I barely know you!" She exclaimed, pushing his feet of the cushions as she gave him a glare about it. "What happened to our no feet on the furniture rule?"

"That rule went out when you started spending my money, Luv." He gave her a small smile. "Get on with yer question, Ducks. Jerry Springer is on and I wanna watch someone get beaten up."

Willow rolled her eyes and took a breath. "Are vampires..." She tried to get the right word but it didn't come out. A few times words entered her head but as she was about to say them she stopped. None of them were the right word she was looking for.

"What, Pet?" Spike asked, urging her on. "Are vampires what?"

"Well... are..." She gave a light growl of frustration. "Are they gay?" She finally asked.

"You wanna know if we're gay?" He asked with disbelieving eyes. "You never really noticed me and Dru did you? Or Slutty and Paingel?"

Willow thought for a moment then threw her arms up as it hit her. "Of course! Now I get it." She looked at him again. "You and Angel, well..."

"We had a relationship. Yeah." He stated plainly. "That was a long time ago, Ducks, and it was just to keep me in line. I mean... I *was* his favourite but we never went past the sire/childe line. He did it to show me who was boss is all." She still had the questioning look in her eyes.
"Vampires will shag anything that moves, Red." The vampire explained. "And some things that don't move."

Willow gave a small look of uncomfort. "So... if you liked someone? Would that just be because they're moving or because you really like them?"

"Depends on the person. Can I watch Springer now?" He asked in a small, hopeful voice. She nodded in reply, standing again as Spike turned the
tv on again. As she was about to leave the room the volume on the television turned down. "Pet." Willow turned again. "Can I ask you a question?" She nodded. "Am I really whipped?"

The girl smiled, walking over and sitting down next to him. "You'll never be whipped. You're Spike. You're un-whippable." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and turned to walk out the door. A blush started to creep across her cheeks. <I just kissed Spike. Again! Oh goddess. Her heart started racing as she headed for the elevator. <I kissed Spike. I like kissing Spike. Spike is my friend. I gave him a *friendly* kiss. A kiss on the cheek which is where friends usually kiss each other if they were ever going to give each other a kiss. I'm babbling. That must mean I liked the kiss too much. I'm blushing. I *really* liked that kiss. I should stop kissing him! I *really* really should stop kissing him. Oh, but kissing him is so good. Stop it, Willow! Don't kiss and you won't blush. If you don't blush you won't get embarrassed in front of him and have to bail. I wonder what he'd do if I kissed him on the lips. Willow!>

 *^*^*

Spike was still staring at the door that Willow had raced out of. He could hear her heart pounding as she made her way to the elevator. He chuckled as he thought of her possible crush on him, his face giving a mischievous grin as he turned the volume up once again. His tongue flicked out, resting on his top lip as he chuckled again, acting like a little kid about the whole situation. <Little witch likes to kiss me.> His mind said to him. <She likes kissing me.> He thought again, his grin widening again as his happiness increased. The dog that had resumed it's place on his lap, yawned. Spike looked down.

<Whipped.> The dog thought, giving it's head a shake as it jumped off Spike's lap and walked towards the door.

"'Ey! Don't you look at me like that then turn away! You listening to me, mutt?" Spike called out to the dog.

Puppy Spike turned and gave Spike the look again before walking out of the room. It barked once. The vampire on the couch could've sworn the
tiny animal's bark sounded like 'whipped'. <Nah, I'm just paranoid.> He turned back to the tv.
 

~Part 13~

Willow walked into the kitchen with a yawn. "Morning, Princess. Sleep well?" Spike asked as he popped the toast out of the toaster and put it on a plate, spreading some raspberry jam on top. The girl grumbled at him and took a glass of juice out of the fridge, sitting around the other side of the counter as she began drinking it. Spike put the plate in front of her and leant on the wood, watching her. "Something wrong?"

"I didn't get much sleep last night. I kept having these dreams about the top floor." She moaned sleepily, taking a bite out of the toast with a sigh.

"What were they about?" He asked.

~Willow's Dream~

Willow stood in the middle of the room on the second floor. She turned around, seeing all the dusty instruments around the place. Haunting music began playing as she started walking towards the next room. As she entered she saw herself sitting on top of the bench, her legs curled up to her chest as she rocked backwards and forwards, the long red locks she had were hanging down around her face. As the red head stepped forward she could hear her dream-self humming the song 'The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies' softly to herself.

As Willow's dream-self looked up at her she gasped, taking a few steps back. "I'm trapped." The girl whispered. "I'm trapped." She put her chin back down on her knees as she continued her rocking and humming.

~Reality~

"Oh, nothing." The witch managed a small smile before eating the remainder of the toast.

Spike looked at her curiously for a few moments, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth and that it really was nothing. "Go 'ave a shower then try and get some more rest." He took the empty plate and glass and put them in the sink. When he turned he saw Willow go to protest but held up a hand to silence her. "No, Pet. No buts. Just go." The girl jumped off the stool she was sitting on and headed for the elevator, too tired to take the stairs this time. "An' now for that bloody room." Spike muttered to himself after watching Willow take the elevator upstairs to get her clothes for her shower.

*^*^*

As the elevator stopped on the second floor Spike took a breath, waiting for the doors to open. They didn't budge. He frowned as he pushed the
button to open them. Again, no movement. He hit the button a few more times but still they wouldn't open. The doors started to ripple and in his shock the vampire stepped away until his back was almost touching the back of the elevator. "Trapped. Trapped." A voice moaned as if the machine was alive. "Trapped." It said again, it's voice full of sorrow. Spike's eyes widened as he looked around the entire elevator. "Trapped." The doors gave another ripple, much larger than before as the same face Spike saw in the piano appeared in front of him once again. "Trapped." It repeated. "Trapped."

Spike quickly pushed the button for the first floor and the machine began moving again, the voice and face both fading as it started moving. The blond gave the doors a studious look until they opened to the first floor. He ran a hand over his face as he stepped out. "Stairs." He muttered with determination as he headed for the stairs that would lead him up to the last level of the house. "Nobody spooks my Red."

*^*^*

Willow jumped up and out of bed after hearing a loud crash coming from upstairs. She looked at her clock on her bedside table. It was 2:30pm.
<Spike should be asleep by now.> She thought, sliding out of bed and walking to the elevator. A big sign on it read 'Don't use it, Pet.' She gave the paper and odd look before heading for the stairs. As she walked up the steps she could hearing Spike cursing and more crashing. Coming to the top she saw Spike ducking tools that were flying from his toolbox in the far right hand corner of the room (from where Willow stood). "Spike?" She asked. A hammer flew quickly towards her head. She squeaked then ducked, only just missing it. She turned to Spike who was ducking a few screw-drivers that were aimed at him. "Spike!" She turned to the tool box and ran at it. When she was in between the vampire and the tools they all fell to the ground in a clatter. Turning back she looked at him, his arms still up to protect himself. He let them drop down to his sides as he straightened up. "What happened?"

"I don't bloody well know." He growled. She frowned at him. The blond let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his face. "Sleep well this time?"

"Yeah, okay, I guess. Didn't have the dream again." She looked at him closely. "Are you okay, Spike?"

The vampire snorted. "Pet, I haven't slept for hours. I'm tired and grumpy. I've just had tools flying at every part of my body and the only time they stop is when you're in the way."

The red head grinned. "Need me to save you from any more of those big bad tools, Spike?" She asked in a sweet voice. The vampire grumbled at
her as he headed for the stairs with Willow beside him. "Oh, and what's wrong with the elevator?"

"Don't ask. I just know it has something to do with the tools though."

*^*^*

Spike was on the prowl. He made his way through the kitchen, around the dining table in the dining room, remembering to keep low at all times. He made a dash to the other side of the house to the door of the garage. All clear. He started to run again, ducking down low so he wouldn't get caught. Then... it happened. "Gimme back my boot, Mutt!" Spike bellowed. The dog ran, the boot still firmly in his mouth as Spike ran out of the
lounge room, chasing after the puppy. The dog bolted up the stairs to the first floor. He waited at the top for Spike. The blond vampire stopped, growling at the dog with his game face in place. <That stupid fur-ball knows the exact *wrong* times to play up.> He thought as he slowly approached Junior, hoping that he wouldn't scare him away so he could get his boot back so he could go out. "Here, Puppy. Come 'ere, Puppy." He said softly as he approached the tiny white dog.

<Not so fast, big guy.> The dog thought as it started running again.

Spike growled as he took off after Spike junior. Just as Spike was about to catch the dog at the end of the hall the dog pivoted and started
running back. The Big Bad skidded to a halt before running after the dog again. <'Ow the 'ell can you pack so much friggin' energy into one stupid piece of...> He once again skidded to a halt. The dog was slowly edging it's way into Willow's room. <'E planned this all along. I swear! Dumb dog!> He bent down to the dog and sighed, wondering how to word it. "You don't know what 'just friends' means, do you?" He asked softly, so that Willow wouldn't hear them from her perch in front of the computer in the opposite corner to the door. The dog turned and ran for Willow. Spike growled again and walked in, closing the door behind him.

The dog dropped the boot under the table holding the computer and yelped once, looking at Spike. "Not now, Spikey. I'm busy." She took a swig
from her coffee mug, still holding it in one hand, as she continuing her typing, although difficult, with the other. The dog scratched at her leg. "Not now, Junior. Go annoy Spike." She giggled as she said the words.

"He already is." Spike grumbled as he walked over.

Willow squeaked in surprise, the coffee spilling down the front of her shirt as she jumped. "Goddess, Spike! You scared me!" She panted, then saw her shirt and groaned. "Oh great." The girl muttered sarcastically.  The dog gave Spike his best devilish look then tilted it's head towards Willow. She was wearing a shirt alright. Only a shirt. Spike bit his bottom lip to prevent himself from groaning.

Oh yeah, she was wearing a shirt, and only a shirt... but it was also an incredibly short shirt. Now it was an incredibly short and dirty shirt. <"Maybe you should take that off, luv. Your panties might have coffee on them too." "Here... let me get that for you." "What I'd do to hear you say 'Oh goddess, Spike' for another reason."> Spike slapped his head but put his hands behind his back with a smile as Willow turned around to look at him.

"Uh, Spike, I'm going to have to... change." She looked up, a slight pink tinge to her cheeks. He smirked at her. "Spike." She whined. "I can't change with you in the room." She stated.

"Scared I'll find out you're not really a red head?" He asked with a grin.

Willow blushed even further before looking down at the dog at her feet. "Sic 'im." She ordered.

The dog barked then charged at Spike, biting at his ankles. Spike looked down at the dog for a moment before looking back up at Willow. "What's
he supposed to do? Chew-toy me to death?"

The witch gave Spike her resolve face. "Out. Now. Me. Change."

"Yes. Jane. Tarzan. Go. Now." Spike joked, heading for the door, dragging Junior away as the dog held onto Spike's jeans by his teeth.

Willow giggled and once the door was closing, headed for her wardrobe and picked out another shirt and another pair of underwear. She slipped out of her partially coffee drenched panties and put on the new pair before taking off her shirt and putting the newer, longer one on. Spike's eyes widened. He'd turned back around after removing the dog from his leg in time to see Willow's stomach. He mentally cursed that he'd paused to take the dog away from his leg. If he'd left that a little while longer he would've seen more than just her abs. But no. They were just friends. He'd told the dog himself! *Just* *friends*. Then why'd he feel the need to spoil her and want to be as close to her as he could. Closing the door softly he turned, bringing it down to how long it had been since he'd had a woman.

*^*^*

Knocking. On Willow's door. There it was again. The girl groaned but kept her eyes on the computer screen. "Yeah!" She called out. The door opened and closed. A few seconds later Spike was leaning over her shoulder, reading what she was typing.

"Who's Vampie? And this Vix person?" Spike asked.

The red head continued typing but managed a simple answer. "Friends."

"How do you know them?"

"Net."

Spike smirked. This was fun. "Just shake or nod your head for these ones, Ducks." He waited and she gave a small nod before he started. "You met them in chat?" Willow nodded. "Alright, Vampie is male?" Willow shook her head. "Okay, er, Vix and Vampie know each other?" Another nod. "Real life?" Nod. "You've met them?" Shake. "You want to meet them?" Shrug. "A shrug wasn't part of the instructions." Nod. Spike chuckled. "Okay, Pet, next question. You chat most nights." Nod. "They live in Sunnyhell?" Shake. "They live in America?" Nod. "They believe in vampires?" Nod. "You have known them for a while?" Nod. "You think I'm cute?" Nod. Willow stopped typing and started blushing. He kissed her on the top of the head with a wide smile. "Thanks, Ducks. I know all I need to know." He chuckled and headed for the door.

Willow turned around. "You tricked me!" She yelled. "Besides! Cute means small!" The red head laughed and turned around to go back to the chat.

The vampire stopped dead in his tracks. No one called him small and got away with it. To prove... or not to prove. He turned around, walking
purposefully towards her. <This is Willow, Mate. She's innocent. Don't do it.> His gentlemanly side said. He stopped walking. <Go on. She called you *small*! You're William the Bloody! Spike! Don't forget the *real* reason you got that nickname.> He smirked and started walking again. His mind made a tsk'ing sound and he stopped again. <What?> The demonic side asked. His gentlemanly side sighed. <What?> It asked again. <I thought you liked Willow the way she was... now you want to corrupt her.> The good side thought. <I do!> The evil side yelled. <But she called me small.> It added in a tiny voice. <I'm William the Bloody.> It's voice now sounded pouty. <You bloody ninny! You're worse than me!> The good side yelled back. <Am not!> <Are too!> <Am not!> <Are... oh hell. Fine, you're not.> There was a pause. <You don't mean that.> The evil side replied in a tiny voice. The good side mentally growled as Spike turned and headed back towards the door.

*^*^*

"Spike."

"What?"

"Can we go out?"

Sigh. "Why?"

"I'm bored.

"When?"

"Tonight, about... uh... I don't know."

Fold up paper. Rub eyes wearily. "Where?"

"Movies? Park? Fair? I don't know. Just out."

"How long'll we be gone?"

"Uh... don't know."

Groan. "Pet, we're not goin' anywhere until you get a few things figured out."

"Okay, okay. How about... the gaming arcade? Uh... as soon as the sun sets? And... about... 3 hours? That okay?"

"Sure." Spike unfolded the paper he was reading and flipped back to the page he was at, hiding the comics behind it as he read the tiny cartoons. He heard a heavy sigh. The vampire clenched his jaw. Another heavy sigh. His teeth ground together. Another extremely long and dramatic sigh. He folded up the paper and did his best not to slam it onto the top of the coffee table. "What?" He asked through clenched teeth.

The red head smiled at him, her bottom lip between her teeth. "Spike, can we get some fairy floss on the way home if we go through the fair
grounds?"

"Yes, pet." He replied, pausing as he waited for her to say something else. Nothing. "Can I read my paper now?"

"Sure, Spike." She stood, patting him on the knee as she did so then walked towards the door. "Calvin and Hobbes is good today." She snickered as she left. Spike picked up the paper again as he took the comics out from between the pages and turned to the page that had Calvin and Hobbes on it.
 

~Part 14~

Willow jumped out of the DeSoto as Spike parked in the underground parking lot for the mall. The vampire got out of his door and lit a cigarette. His red headed companion was bouncing excitedly. "I don't see why you didn't go out all those other days, Pet. Now you're out you seem like a hyper puppy. No, you seem like Junior. By the way, that's the worst name you could've come up with for a mutt. I'm insulted!"

The witch grinned at him and walked around the other side of the car so she was standing in front of him. "One, I'm not hyper, I'm just happy. Two, I don't seem like *Spike* junior." The blond rolled his eyes, taking another drag from his cancer stick. "I'm not a dog." Spike smiled, looking away. Willow hit him on the arm but continued. "And I think it's a good name. Lots of dog owners call their dogs 'spike'. You just have a very... canine name." She smiled, walking towards the elevator that would take them up inside the mall. "Come on. Finish that... that... *thing* and let's go."

Spike stamped the cigarette out under his boot and stepped inside the elevator. <Hope this one isn't haunted.> He thought absently. "It's not a *thing*, it's a cigarette. You're already dragging me 'ere so don't start on my smoking."

"Smoking kills." She stated.

"I'm already dead."

"And I'm too young to die." She shot back. "Second hand smoke is worse than first hand. Carbon dioxide comes out as well as the smoke when it's
second hand and..." She stopped when she heard Spike chuckling. "What's so funny?" She demanded, her hands on her hips.

The vampire smiled at her. "You're 'ere bein' all smart and high and mighty. Telling me that I can *breathe*." He gave her a smug look.

Willow frowned. "Oh. Right." The elevator stopped as the doors opened. They walked in silence to the gaming arcade.

"Stupid bloody hell and the bloody goddamn stupid friggin'..." Spike started grumbling as he started patting at the pockets of his duster to try and find his wallet.

"What's wrong?"

"Can't find my wallet." He mumbled absently, still patting every pocket he had. Willow smacked him on the backside, surprising him. He looked at her sexily. "If you wanted me *that* badly you should've just asked." A grin formed on his face as he pulled the wallet from his back jeans pocket. "Thanks, Luv." They stood behind the counter to get some tokens. He slipped a note under the glass window as the man behind the counter gave them their tokens. Spike handed the small cup full of tokens to his friend and leant down near her ear. "Why didn't you just tell me where it was?" He straightened again, chuckling as Willow's mouth dropped and the blush started on her face. She whacked him on the arm again, moving away with the tokens.

"Spike! Here!" She called out, pointing to one of the gaming machines. The vampire rolled his eyes. The man beside him gave him a sympathetic
look before being practically dragged away by his date. Spike chuckled and walked over to the red head as she put one of the special game coins
in the slot. Spike put his hands on one of the controls while Willow took the other. "No, like this." She moved his hands into the right position.

<What I'd *like* those hands to be doing.> He thought before shaking his head to rid the thoughts from his mind. "Pet, I know how to play." He
stated as her hands returned to her own panel. <And some other fun games that don't require tokens. Or money. But money would be nice. Spike, you ponce! Shut up! Stop thinkin' about her like she's some kind of love slave. Hmmm... Willow as my love slave.> He looked down at her with a
secretive smile. She looked up at him with her own smile before looking back at the screen before her.

The games had begun... in more ways than one.

*^*^*

"Here, Xander! Here!" Buffy called behind her as she stood outside the gaming arcade, waiting for her friend to catch up. "So, tell me why Anya
didn't wanna come again?"

"She's scared of Farm bo- ah, Riley." Xander smiled sweetly at the girl.

Riley walked up behind them. "Who's scared of me?" He asked.

"Oh, no one. We were joking. I mean, everyone's scared of you Riley. Ha ha ha." She faked her laughter but it came off normal to Riley. "You're just too..."

"Alive." Xander coughed out.

The slayer glared at her brunette friend before tugging on Riley's arm and pulling him inside. "Come on." They all stood in front of the counter as they bought their tokens.

"That was great." Willow beamed after beating Spike at their 15th game. She walked around one of the shooting games and quickly ducked back
behind it, pulling Spike with her.

"What?" He asked as he crouched beside her, giving her a funny look.

The red head paled as she looked up at him. "B-Buffy."

Spike shrugged. "We can hide from her. She's just one person."

"A-a-and Xander." Spike started to get was she was talking about. "And Riley." She said in a high pitched but soft whisper. Her hand covered
her mouth. She heard her friends' voice getting closer. She tugged on his duster and gave him a hopeless look. He quickly started moving away, still hunched over, motioning for her to follow. As they moved around the group of machines, Buffy and her two male escorts did the same, as if they were following them. But they didn't know they were there. Willow hurried after Spike as they went around the machines, now they had the door in sight. "Exit, 12 o'clock." Willow muttered to the vampire beside her.

"Make a run for it?"

"We can't. They'd see us before we even got there."

Spike sighed, still crouched beside her. He looked around, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. <If the slayer catches me with her best friend Red'll get lectured to death... and with Slutty that would be one painful death.> He looked at Willow. <Not to mention I'd be dust before you could say 'Slutty the Vampire Shagger'.> He look upward and took a deep, yet unneeded, breath. He grabbed Willow's arm. "Follow my lead." He hissed as they stood.

As soon as they turned the corner they came face to face with Xander. Buffy and Riley were on the games in a far corner with their backs towards them. "Spike!" Xander yelped in a tiny voice. He looked down at Willow with wide eyes. "Willow!"

"Yeah, that's right. What about it?" Spike growled. "Your little friend 'ere took something of mine..." He looked at Willow with an evil glare. "An' I want it back." He gave her a look that would shoot daggers.

"Sorry." She said in a tiny voice, giving him an apologetic look. "I didn't mean to honest! I didn't know the spell wouldn't work." She played along to Spike's little act. "I wanted to get money for you... not hide your wallet." She said in a small voice.

"'Ey, Deadboy junior, let her go. It's not like it has money in it! You're broke!" The boy fought.

"Yeah, but it's still mine. I got it a few decades ago in Italy and I want it back." He gave Willow a short tug on the arm. "Well?"

"Fine, why would it be in the arcade?" Xander asked, crossing his arms.

Willow gave him a small, embarrassed smile. "One of the words I said w-was 'game' and it should've been rain. He was supposed to be showered
with money b-but he didn't."

"And no I've lost my wallet. Listen, just find my wallet and leave me the 'ell alone." The vampire growled as he turned and stalked towards the door, his duster flapping out behind him as he left.

"Are you okay, Wills?" Xander asked as he touched her arm.

"Yeah." She replied, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Why did you want to get him money anyway?" He asked, pulling her behind him to where Buffy and Riley were.

"Oh, uh, well, uh, er, I-I didn't want him around anymore. I-I thought that if he could get his own blood he wouldn't need us, and-and he'd stay away!" She answered through her stuttering and stammering.

Xander smiled, totally unaware of his friend's lying. "Good idea. You should find his wallet again and try again. Oh, and find a spell that could turn him into something that doesn't talk. His voice is annoying."

<I don't know. I think it's sexy.> She thought, trying to hide her pout. She put her arms behind her back and felt something there. She smiled and pulled the object that Spike had slipped down into the back of her pants. "Oh, look, here it is. I'd better go do that spell now. Bye, guys! Have fun!" She bolted from the gaming arcade. once she was far enough away but still inside the mall she smiled and looked at the wallet. "Spike had his hands down my pants. Bad, Willow." She spoke softly to herself but grinned anyway.

"You like that did you?" A familiar British voice whispered in her ear.

She squeaked in surprise and jumped, spinning around to see the chuckling face of Spike. She hit him on the chest with his wallet as he waggled his brows at her. "Don't do that." The girl hissed as she turned again and started walking with Spike falling into step beside her. "No, I didn't. I just thought it was funny."

"Spike had his hands down my pants. Oh, bad, Willow. Bad, bad, *bad* Willow." He said in a mock falsetto as he teased her.

The girl started to speed up her step as her blush deepened. "Anyone with their hands down my pants makes me *bad Willow*." She grumbled,
knowing he could still hear her.

The vampire chuckled again. "Just getting you back for before." He smiled at her. "You can have *your* hands on *my* arse any day, Luv." He
grinned when she started blushing again, keeping her eyes downcast. "Come on, Pet. What are friends for? That whelp friend of yours *has* to
have said something like that to you."

Willow thought back. Nope, he hadn't, but it was the only way she could think of to stop her embarrassment. "Yeah, but still! He doesn't shove
money down my pants." She smiled up at him then looked away.

Spike licked his lips and looked her up and down. Suddenly his pants had shrunk a few sizes. <And what I would give to *really* do that.> He
thought then snapped out of his daydream of putting money down Willow's pants when she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards a clothes store.

"Please?" She begged. He nodded with a sigh. "I forgot my card."

"Fine." He muttered, giving her a credit card. "Don't forget yours next time. I like to know where my plastic is going and get it back!"

<What about your rubber? Willow! Oooh, you're being *too* naughty today. Maybe it's just because Buffy's here and it's dangerous. Oooh,  dangerous and Spike. Spike was *really* dangerous when he could bite. Hmmm... biting.> Willow was snapped out of her thoughts as Spike said her name. "What?"

"Aren't you going in?"

"Not unless you're in there with me. I want you to help me pick something." She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

He started trying to get out of her grasp. "No. No, Pet. Luv, no. Please, no. These places... these places are evil! I've seen good men lost to these places! They go in manly and come out *whipped* no matter *how* bad they are." He stated, still trying to get his arm out of her tight grasp without hurting her.

"Spike, I said it before, you're unwhippable." She smiled, pulling him into the middle of the store and calling over one of the shop assistants.

"Can I help you?" The woman asked.

"Something... uh, Sp-uh, William? Something what?"

Spike shook his head. "I'm not talking. It'd just make everything more painful."

Willow laughed. "Count to ten." She turned back to the shop assistant and smiled. "Uh, something... William, what's something Buffy would wear?"

The vampire's eyes widened as he looked at her. "Pet, they aren't clothes. It's a piece of thread that has been strategically placed."

The woman laughed and looked at Willow. "It seems your boyfriend doesn't like your friends clothes." Willow went to protest as the woman called
Spike her boyfriend but was cut off. "Come, I'll show you what you're looking for. Is this 'Buffy' Buffy Summers?"

"Yeah, do you know her?"

"Know her? She's our best customer. Comes in here at *least* once a week even if only to buy an accessory." The woman beamed as she showed Willow a few dresses then showed her the changing rooms. "Call me if you need me." The woman said.

Just as the lady was about to go Willow called out. "Wait, can you help me choose something?"

The woman gave her a knowing smile. "Of course. Try these on and I will tell you which suits you the best." The doors closed to Willow's stall as she began changing.

*^*^*

It was a good half an hour later when the shop assistant walked over to Spike with her wide, professional smile. "Mr.Sheffield? Miss.Rosenberg would like to see you." She escorted him to the stalls. The lady put a seat down in front of Spike as they stood in front of three joined mirrors. A tiny foot high stage was placed in front of the mirrors and Spike was seated to face them all.

Willow walked out of the changing rooms and stood on the tiny platform, turning around to give him a better look. The vampire's mouth dropped, the saleswoman saw and smile at Willow from behind Spike. Willow smiled back at the lady before looking at Spike. "Well?"

<Now I know why they come out whipped.> "Uh..."

"Don't worry, Miss.Rosenberg. Many men have that reaction when they see a beautiful young woman."

"Mmhmm." Spike mumbled, his eyes still roaming over Willow's body in the sleek green dress. The dress hugged her figure, showing all her curves,
the green colour illuminated her eyes as the shimmering fabric twinkled at him. "OhboyI'minforit." He said in a rush and stood, gulping. "Gotta go." He said in a high-pitched, unmanly voice before rushing out of the store.

The hacker frowned at the lady. The woman laughed. "He likes it. Just between you and me I think he's going to the bathrooms." She hinted before moving the chair back to where it was before.

"The bathrooms? Why the... oh." Willow blushed the colour of her hair before slipping back into the stall. "I'll take it." She called out softly.

The woman laughed as she walked over to the counter to wait for Willow to exit. A smile was firmly planted on her face at the thought of what
Willow would ask for if she used the dress against the tall, blond man she was with. "Mr.Sheffield, you are one lucky man." She paused, thinking of Spike and smiling. "And you are too, Miss.Rosenberg." She muttered to herself. <A man that has such a deep attraction for a girl... but tries to be manly all the same.> She sighed happily then noticed Willow was putting the dress on the counter. <But is it real or more of a brotherly-love?> She smiled again and folded the dress to put it in a bag. "Cash or card?"
 

~Part 15~

"I need your help." Willow gulped as she wrung her hands, standing on her friend's doorstep. "There's no one else here, right?"

"Come in. So, why my help? Why not Buffy or Xander or Giles?" Anya asked, looking at the girl curiously. "Does it have something to do with sex because I know a few positions that Xander..."

"No!" Willow cut in quickly before she had a chance to blush. "Ah, not sex... really." Now she blushed as she sat on Anya's couch in her apartment.

Anya studied her for a moment. "It's your house-mate isn't it? Is he really cute?"

Willow's mouth dropped. "No! Uh, yes. No! No, uh... okay, yes. It's about him and he's cute."

"And, it's a not *really* about sex? I suggest you use lubrication it will make it a lot easier."

"No! I'm not having sex with him."

"Not yet."

Willow's blush deepened. "No, not at all. We're friends. Anya, please can we focus?" The ex-demon nodded. "Now, I know you've been around for ages and all that... I need some advice. We've been teasing each other a lot lately and we've been... well, touching a lot. *Not* sexy kind of touching, just friendly playful touching and I-I... like it. Is that bad?"

"No."

"Anything else you can add to that?" Willow asked. Anya shrugged. "Uh, I also need to ask another question but, first, can I use your bathroom?" She asked hopefully. The girl nodded and Willow walked down the hall to the bathroom. She splashed her face to try and stop the flaming on her cheeks then stopped just before walking out when she heard a knock at the door. She heard Anya get up and open it.

"I need your help." Willow's eyes went wide when she heard Spike's voice. "There's no one else here right?"

"Come in." Spike stepped over the threshold and sat down on the couch where Willow had just been sitting. "So, why my help? Why not Willow or someone?" Anya asked, folding her hands and placing them on her lap. "Is it about sex this time because I know a few positions that Xander..."

"No!" Spike cut in. "Not about sex. I'd like it to be but it's not." He sighed. "Uh, I have this friend... right? And, uh, he's got this problem with a girl."

The ex-demon tried not to burst out laughing. Typical male had to talk to her about his 'friend'. "Go on." She said with a smile.

"Anyway, this guy, my friend, he's... well, he thinks she's hot. Uh, I mean attractive. He went shopping with this girl and almost got caught by her friends. You see... these friends don't like him much. Anyway, he acted like he was trying to get her to give him back his wallet and that's why they were out in the mall so he left and slipped his wallet into the back of her pants so she could, you know, pretend that she'd found it and leave so they could meet up again."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, and so, anyway. She was blushing and everything about how he had his hands down her pants, you know, like a joke, but this guy started
thinking that he wouldn't mind 'putting money down her pants'." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before rubbing his eyes tiredly. "What do I tell him?"

"Your secrets safe with me Spike." She patted his leg reassuringly. A plan started forming in her head. "Oh, and give Willow my best." She stated.

This was Willow's cue. She'd thought out what she'd do while Spike was talking. Maybe later she'd let the fact that he'd said he found her attractive sink into her head. She walked out, wiping her hands. "Oh, hi, Spike." She kept her head down. "What're you doing here?"

"Red?" He stood in shock. "Oh, just talkin' to Anya here. You know, just a little chat with a fellow ex-demon." He shrugged, pushing his hands into his jeans pockets.

"You have to go now." The girl still on the couch stated. "Xander's coming over and..."

"You're going to have lots of orgasms. We know." The two people replied as they headed for the door.

"Good luck with the house." Anya said as she saw them walk to the door.

The two froze on the spot before whipping around. "Don't tell. Please. Buffy'll kill him and I'll never hear the end of it." The witch pleaded.

"Willow, I won't tell. Buffy's not my friend. She hates me in fact. I'm scared Riley'd tell Buffy. I can't tell Giles because he wouldn't believe me anyway and Xander's too dumb to even keep up a conversation. The only good point of his we can *share* is his penis. Well, that and I think it's none of their business."

"Pet, I'd kiss you if..."

Anya interrupted. "If you didn't have this friend that thinks this girl is attractive. I know." She started filing her nails as the two people that had asked her for advice left the apartment. "God they need therapy. Maybe I should start charging." A few moments later there was a knock at the door. She opened it and saw Giles. "Come in." She sighed and sat on the couch again, gesturing for Giles to do the same. "I know, I know. You need my help, there's no one else. Is it about sex because I know a few positions..."

*^*^*

"So..." Spike trailed off as they were half-way to their house in his car.

"Yeah." Willow replied quickly then turned to look out her opened window.

The vampire looked at her for a moment. "Pet, why were you there?"

"I was asking Anya a question." She smiled. "For a friend of mine that thinks this girl is attractive." A grin spread across her face.

Spike groaned. "You 'eard that?!"

"Yup." She said happily. "So the shop lady *was* right!" She exclaimed happily, sticking her tongue out for a moment, which tended to be a thing she did when she was ecstatic.

"What'd she say?" The blond asked with caution. The red head gave him a secretive look before looking out the window again. "Pet." He said with
a warning tone.

"She said that guys tend to run out of her store when they think the girl they're shopping with is attractive." She smiled again then her face dropped as it hit her. She turned in her seat to look at Spike. "You think I-I'm hot?!"

He paused for a few moments, his knuckles were going whiter as his grip tightened and loosened on and off with his nervousness. "Oh look, we're
here!" He gave her a short smile before practically bolting out the door once the car was in the garage.

Willow giggled as she raced out after him, intent on rubbing it in like he had done to her so many times before.

*^*^*

"You really think I'm hot?" Willow squealed. "Wait *right* *here*." She pointed to the spot in the lounge room where Willow had found him hiding.

"Willow, luv, don't do this." He begged, but she was already gone.

A few minutes later and she was standing at the door again, giving him a mischievous look. The vampire sucked his lips in his mouth and clamped
them together with his teeth, trying to control himself, and stop from tearing the offending dress off the witch. "Well? What do you think?" She turned in a full circle, the same dress she had on in the store she was wearing now.

Spike clamped his mouth down even further to stop from yelling out how gorgeous she looked. They were friends and he wasn't going to cross that
line. Not with the first real friend he'd had in over 100 years. "Lovely." He squeaked.

The tiny dog of theirs walked up behind Willow and yelped, taking a begging stance. <Have mercy.> The tiny mutt thought. <I wish I was human again.> He added before rolling onto his back for another tummy rub. <But *no* I had to be a puppy. A *puppy* for crying out loud!> Willow bent down and rubbed the dog's stomach. <A little lower.>  Spike saw the dog's look and growled. "Pet, he's using you to get off."

Willow laughed but continued rubbing. "Spike, he's a dog. I'm human. I don't go for that bestiality."

<That doesn't sound good for old 'dad'. I mean... demons act like animals. How am I supposed to get them together now?> An idea struck the tiny dog and he jumped up and raced of the Spike, tugging at the bottom of his pants.

"I think you should go with him." Willow said, standing again.

The British vampire sighed and walked to the door, waiting for the dog. "Well?" He asked it. Spike junior started jumping at Willow then moving closer to the door. "You too, Luv." He grinned.

The witch sighed and followed as the dog moved up the stairs. He stopped outside Willow's room and barked, waiting for her to open the door. She did and the mutt ran in with the two of them following. The dog closed the door slightly behind them with his head then ran over to the bed. The two of them followed. <Do I have to spell it all out?!?! Come on, mom, you're smart! Figure it out!> The tiny fluff ball thought before jumping on the bed and barking at them.

"What?" Willow asked, sitting down beside the dog on the edge of the bed.

Spike junior growled through his frustration, wishing that he could talk so he could yell out some obscenities he'd heard Spike use. Instead he
settled for a bark at Spike and doing his best to sit on the bed. The vampire finally got it and sat down too. The dog put his teeth around Spike's hand very lightly and started to carrying it, with Spike trying to help the dog by not putting all his weight into keeping it on the bed. Junior dropped his hand in the middle of the two people before getting Willow's hand in his teeth and doing the same, dropping her hand on top of Spike's. The two people's eyes went wide at what the dog, *their* dog was doing. The dog then barked at Willow, barked at Spike and jumped off the bed, walking towards the door. He turned back again and barked one more time before walking out.

"Well... that was wiggy." Willow thought allowed, her eyes still wide as her eyes stayed looking at the door where the dog had gone.

<That dog is smart.> Spike thought. <Maybe *too* smart for his own good.> The vampire added, his eyes narrowing slightly before he looked back at Willow.

When the two had eye contact they looked down at their hands and suddenly pulled apart. Spike got off the bed. "Well, bonne nuit, petit chat." He said before fleeing the room, closing her door behind him.

*^*^*

Out in the hall Spike saw Spike junior looking curiously at him with his head tilted to the side. The vampire's eyes narrowed. "My room. *Now*!" He growled, pointing to his room.

The dog lowered his head and put his tail between his legs as he made his way slowly to his master's room. Spike walked in behind him, grumbling as he went and closed the door with a click behind him. <Now, Dad, I can explain.> The dog thought, backing away from the vampire that was stalking towards him with his game face on.

"You li'l mongrel." Spike growled as he kept approaching the dog. "What the *hell* are you playing at! We're friends! Just friends! Okay? If you could talk I'd make you *spell* it!"

With every letter the dog thought he barked. <F> <R> <I> <E> <N> <D> <S>.

The blond was taken aback at the dogs barking then sudden dog-style of smug looks. <Damn dog.> The man thought. "If you so much as make a look that I don't like... I will forget about this chip and make your innards your outards." The vampire pulled his duster off and threw in on the
dresser before removing the rest of his clothing and slipping in under his sheets. Spike junior gave him his doggy grin and walked over into the corner. Spike watched curiously then groaned, closing his eyes and flopping his head back on the pillow when he saw the dog return with a pair of Willow's lacy underpants. The dog jumped up on the bed and dropped them on Spike's face. The vampire ripped them off and glared at the dog. "*Bad* *dog*." He growled angrily before jumping out of bed and slipping his duster over his arms and wrapping it around him tightly, walking out of the room towards Willow's. He knocked and waited for an answer.

Willow opened the door and saw Spike with an angry look on his face. "Spike? What's wrong?" The vampire shoved the panties in her face.

"Blame *Junior*." He muttered before turning to go.

"Wait!" Willow called out. Spike turned and saw Willow's blushing face as she held a pair of his boxers in her hand.

The vampire rolled his eyes but allowed a tiny chuckle to escape. "Thanks, Pet. I've been looking for those."

Willow smiled and closed the door again. The vampire turned and stalked back towards his room. He saw the dog standing in the middle of his room. As he entered the dog saw the boxers being held in Spike's white knuckled grip. <Now, Spike, let's be reasonable.>

*^*^*

"Junior! Here, boy!" Willow called out as she searched her spell-casting room, nothing. She closed the door and checked Spike's 'yet to be decided' room. When she saw nothing inside she closed the door again. She had checked everywhere... but Spike's room. Last time she'd been in his room was just too close. Almost seeing him naked and *feeling* his... well, his... thing that Willow refused to acknowledge that she'd touched.

She took a calming breath and opened the door slightly. Taking a look inside she smiled. There on the bed, was Spike, curled up in the sheets all snug and warm. She frowned. Where was the other Spike? "Looking for something, Pet?" Spike asked from behind her.

"Eeeep!" The hacker shrieked, spinning around and running into Spike's arms. "Spike." She gasped, clutching at her heart.

The vampire looked at her for a few more moments before sighing and stepping into his room. That's when she noticed his half-naked state. Saliva started to fill her mouth and threatened to cause her to drool. It would've been worth it. It was a droolable sight. She gulped and watched him through half-closed eyes as he walked around his room in only a towel. "Pet?" Spike asked for the third time. Willow snapped out of her daze and looked him straight in the eye. "Unless you wanna watch you should go." He hinted, grabbing the edge of his towel.

Willow stammered a few times before finally saying, "Uh, I-I'll go." A sweet smile crossed her face as she closed the door and ran to her room,
panting for breath. <Cold shower.> She grabbed her towel and headed for the bathroom. She was glad there were two showers in the house, this
way, if she saw Spike in a droolable way downstairs, she'd just have to run their. The first floor bathroom was for emergency cold showers and any dreams she might have. Kind of like the one she had the first night they were there. She grinned when the thoughts started returning but as she stepped inside the bathroom a few new thoughts arose. <Spike was naked in here.> She closed the door sharply and turned the cold water on, preparing for her ice-cold shower.

*^*^*

5 minutes later...

"Pet? Red?" Spike called out as he walked down the hall in his jeans with his towel around his shoulders. He took the towel off and opened the bathroom door. His mouth dropped, eyes going as round as saucers before he looked down and away. Willow screamed, pulling the shower curtain across. "Uh... uh, sorry, Ducks. Just... my towel." He babbled in a very un-Spike like way.

"Spike!"

"I didn't see anything, Red. Honest!" He protested. <Not much.> He grinned, throwing his towel over the rack inside. "Nice butt, Luv!" He yelled out before closing the door to avoid the soap she threw at him. The vampire chuckled, walking back to his room to attempt at stopping his lower region from stirring any more. <Think bad things, mate. Something disgusting. Summer. That's a bad thing. Summer has bikinis. Willow in a bikini. Willow naked. Argh! Okay, something else. The Initiative! This chip. This chip is why I'm around the Scoobies so bloody much. But Willow's a Scooby. I saw Willow's arse in the shower. No! Just stop it! Buffy. There. Oh... god no. Now I think I'm gonna be scarred for bloomin' life." He flopped back on the bed, his back sinking slightly into the soft mattress as he held his hands up to his face. "Buffy and soldier boy." He shuddered. "I'll never get it up again now." The vampire grumbled. He turned his head to see Spike junior yawn then lick his face. "Willow named you. I saw her... Spike." He growled at himself. The dog licked his face again. "Don't mock me, mutt." He grumbled, grabbing his pillow and covering his face with it. "God, I can't even suffocate myself." The vampire let out a sigh into the pillow. Spike junior took the opportunity to start climbing on his chest to go back to sleep. The pillow moved away as the vampire rubbed the back of the dog, running his hand over it's soft fur. "And you..." He began. "Go back to sleep so I don't have to watch you." Then they both started to drift into the land of nod. Spike and Spike Junior... once again asleep, with dreams
that would keep them happy for the rest of the day.
 

~Part 16~

There he sat. Leaning over a glass of whiskey, sitting at the bar of 'Willy's Place'. Some things just weren't going right today. He threw the alcohol back, glad to have the burning sensation on his throat to take his mind off the things that had happened to him for the past 14 hours. Only another 2 to go and then he'd be tired enough to sleep.

~Flashback~

Spike woke up. He groaned, seeing the time displayed on his digital clock. 6 o'clock. <Bugger that.> He thought but as he closed his eyes again he heard a sound. Willow. Laughing. Downstairs. A smile crossed his face and he was out of bed and dressed in no time.

~Willy's Place~

"That's where the bugger *started* alright." He muttered to himself, lighting a cigarette and taking a much needed drag. His eyes rolled back, thankful to have the nicotine that would ease his pain if only a little.

~Flashback~

The doors of the elevator opened. He'd finally struck a deal with Willow that she wouldn't go upstairs because it was 'unsafe' on the second floor. "Get back on track." His flashback self told him. <Oh right.> Spike thought as he started to remember the next events again. There was Willow at the door. Some boy that looked her age was standing at the door, flirting with her. <*My* Red.> He remembered thinking to himself. <Damn straight.> Spike thought. He walked further over and saw the boy brush the back of his hand against her cheek. Her cheeks reddened at the gesture but she smiled at him anyway. "Red." Spike said in greeting, looking the boy over warily.

"Oh, hi, Spike." She replied in a distracted voice. The boy gave her a wink before walking off. She closed the door and beamed at Spike. "Oh goddess, that was so great!" She jumped up and down a few times in her excitement. "He gave me his phone number! He gave me his phone number!" She squealed. "We're going bowling tonight. Oh, with two of his friends of course. I mean... it's not like a date or anything but... oh goddess! Spike!" She ran up, kissing him on the cheek before running up the stairs, still talking about what she had to wear and what Buffy would do if she were in her place. The vampire pouted then growled. She'd totally forgotten about him. It was only a few days ago that he'd seen her in the shower and now everything about him was forgotten to her. Spike junior tottered down the stairs, looking sick. "Spike! Can you take Junior to the vet when the sun sets? He looks a little sick. Thanks!" Willow called over the balcony before rushing back to her room to try and find a suitable outfit to wear.

Junior walked up to Spike, swaying slightly before throwing up on Spike's bare feet. "Ugh!" Was all Spike could say. "Stupid dog." He muttered, walking to the bathroom to clean himself off. Once that was done he walked out, picked Junior up and took him into the bath-room, putting him in the basket he'd made up. Nice warm blankets in it, a bowl of water nearby and another for food. He looked at the dog with sympathy for a few moments but then tore the thoughts away when he told himself he was a nancy boy for caring about an animal.

~Willy's Place~

"She didn't even know that ponce that turned up on the doorstep. He was just some delivery guy givin' her some mail. 'Ey, Willy! Gimme another." He pushed the glass towards the bartender and waited for his top up. <That's not all.> He thought, skulling the drink quickly and taking another drag. <It just gets bloody worse I tell ya.>

~Flashback~

Spike walked into the dining room, holding a pair of torn boxers in his hands. "Pet, what 'appened?"

Willow looked up from her book that she was reading at the table. "Hmmm? Oh, ah, Junior lost his chew toy so I gave him those. Hope you don't mind." She looked back down and continued reading.

The vampire rolled his eyes with a small annoyed sigh as he walked behind the bench into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator her frowned. "Pet, where's the left-over fettuccini?"

"I had it for breakfast." She replied, turning the page of her book.

He looked into the fridge again. "Where're my blood bags?"

"Some of them were starting to smell. I don't know if it goes off or not so I chucked them out."

Spike's face dropped as he grumbled his way upstairs again.

~Willy's Place~

"There's still more, y'know." He sighed, taking another shot of alcohol. "Line 'em up, Willy. I'll need more than a bottle tonight."

The bartender gave him a sigh as he lined up a few shot glasses and started to fill them up with Spike's drink of choice that night.

~Flashback~

Spike pulled his shirt off and took his belt out of his pants, dropping his jeans to the ground before stepping into the shower stall and turning on the hot and cold taps. He sighed as the warm water ran over him. Nothing like a nice warm shower to wash away the bad happenings of the day. His smile fell as he yelped, jumping out of the shower, shivering. The hot water ran out. He started to swear under his breath as he wrapped his towel around his waist and opened the door. "Where's the bloody hot water?!" He yelled out so Willow could hear him.

"Oh, sorry. Dishwasher was playing up. Use most of the water. Plumber will be here tomorrow to fix it."

Spike growled loudly, drying himself off and getting into his clothes again as he stormed out of the bathroom.

~Willy's Place~

"Spike, buddy, you shouldn't drink like this." Willy stated, giving the vampire a concerned look. "How many bottles have you gone through? I've lost count."

The blond glared evilly at him and the bartender backed up, his hands raised in defence. "Another." He slurred, motioning to the bottle behind the tiny man.

Willy sighed, taking the bottle down from the shelf and pouring Spike another shot. "Just because you're a regular, Spike." He stated, putting
another shot glass out ready for the vamp.

~Flashback~

Finally. The sun had set. Spike had driven the dog to the vet and driven him home. His car smelt like dog spew because the tiny mutt couldn't hold his stomach. A car sick dog. What next? The car started chugging when he was a few houses from Giles' apartment. The vampire groaned, hitting his hands on the steering wheel when it finally conked out.

He got out of the car, slamming the door after locking it. He patted his pockets but frowned when he couldn't find his keys. He looked through the tiny view-hole in the windscreen and yelled in protest. He mustn't have put them in properly and fallen out onto his seat. With a growl he stormed towards the watcher's house. After knocking a few times he just walked in, glaring at Giles as he picked up the phone. The man went to protest but stopped when he heard Spike ask the operator for the mechanic. "Car troubles?" Giles asked as he sipped his tea.

Spike slammed the phone down and looked up, his game face at the fore. "No bloody shit, Sherlock!" He growled, flopping down on his couch. "Why
the hell'd you wanna see me?"

"I need you to drop this off to Xander. He said he's need it and I must stay here to wait for my contact to call." He handed Spike the book he had been holding.

The vampire took it and groaned. "That's *it*? Why can't Slutty or her boy toy take it?"

"Well, er, they seem to be rather... busy lately."

The blond grumbled a few more obscenities before walking out the door and slamming it behind him. He walked all the way to Xander's house and
walked in through the basement access. "Oh, bloody hell!" He growled, chucking the book on the floor and storming out after seeing Xander and Anya on the boy's bed having sex. He rubbed his eyes, hoping that if he rubbed hard enough the image that had been scarred onto his retina would
fade. He blinked a few times but it still wouldn't go. "Bloody hell." He whispered in a tiny voice.

~Willy's Place~

"Listen, Spike, it just sounds like a regular bad day. Okay? I mean, it can't be *that* bad. Right, Buddy?"

"I'm not done yet." Spike stated, throwing back another shot. "There's more."

~Flashback~

The blond vampire was walking back to the house after yelling at the mechanic about how much it cost to put his car into the garage for the night. As he approached he saw the boy from that morning give Willow a light kiss on the cheek. She held her head down slightly as a pink tinge coloured her cheeks. The boy brushed his hand over her cheek again and leant in once more. Spike walked up, coughed to get their attention. "Gonna block the door all night, Mate?" He asked, glaring at the boy.

"Who *is* this?" The guy asked Willow in frustration.

"Oh, nobody. Just my house-mate." She replied, moving away so Spike could get past her. The vampire stormed inside and walked into the lounge room, picking up a few bits of Willow's conversation with the boy before he slammed the door behind him and flopped onto the couch. "Sure, maybe some other time. I'll call you. Bye!" Slam. The door was closed. He turned the tv on and blared the volume to ear shattering levels. The door swung open and a small hand grabbed the remote, shutting the tv off. Suddenly the remote hit his chest, hard. He looked up, rubbing the sore spot and saw the glare on Willow's face. "Explain yourself!" She demanded, crossing her arms over her chest as she fumed.

Spike took a calming breath, standing up and moving within a few inches of her face. "Fuck. You." He growled, pushing past her.

He heard Willow gasp behind him but he was already headed for the elevator. "Spike! Get back here *right* *now*!" She yelled angrily. "You had *no* right at all for doing that to me."

The vampire pursed his lips as he watched her approach but hit the button to close the doors just as she was about to reach him. The doors closed as the elevator started moving up. He stopped it and pushed it to go back down to the ground floor. As it opened he smiled. The chit was gone. Probably upstairs so she could yell at him again. <No bloody way.> He thought as he grabbed his duster off the rack by the door and opened the door.

"Spike! Don't you *dare* leave! We need to talk!" Willow's angry voice came to his ears.

Oh no. He'd had *past* enough today. Instead, he turned around with a calm look on his face and looked up at the balcony that Willow's was glaring at him from. He saluted her then flicked her off and slammed the door behind him as he walked down the footpath, heading for Willy's bar.

~Willy's Place~

"So that's it? Just a bad day, Bud. I mean, it could've been worse, right?"

"Not done yet." Spike mumbled into his arms that his head was resting on. "On the way here, I almost got run over, almost caught by those poofs at the Initiative, almost got staked by accident by the slayer, had a cat fight with her until the chip went off and some demons ran after me for 3 blocks telling me I was a traitor." He lifted his head and skulled the remaining shot glasses in front of him.

Two loud thumps sounded behind him. Footsteps. The vampire turned his head and was immediately punched in the face by a hulking demon. The
demon spat on the downed vampire. "Traitor." It said before walking away. Another five demons waited in line to do the same. When they were done, Willy walked up to a bruised and battered Spike and helped him take his place back on his stool at the counter. "Spike, buddy, go home. I-it's not safe here for you anymore. Just wait 'til things cool down, yeah? I'll send the booze to ya if I have to just don't come back for a while, okay?"

Spike nodded as he staggered towards the door. The door opened before he could get there. "I *thought* you'd be here." Willow said before punching him, knocking him down. "Bastard." She grumbled then noticed his already battered state. "Okay, so we can talk tomorrow." She muttered before walking out again. She walked a few meters to where she'd left her bodyguard. "Okay, let's go, Xand." She said as they started walking again.

"What'd you do? Why've your hands got blood on them? Are you okay?" Xander asked as his inspected her knuckles.

"I'm fine. Spike isn't. I punched him."

"Woah, Wills. 'Bout time you saw it our way."

"No, the demons in there must've done it. I punched him once. He seemed pretty drunk."

"Gonna tell me why you punched him?"

"Nope." She replied simply as they turned the corner.

~Willy's Place~

Spike pulled himself back up to the bar and sat down again, slumping against the wood. "I'm not done yet." He slurred.

Willy shook his head as he watched the vampire before him and sighed, setting up another shot for the poor blond before him.
 

~Part 17~

Groan. Sigh. Whimper. Pout. Groan. "Woof!"

"Bugger off." Came a weak voice.

"Spike, you're a vampire, you're not supposed to get sick. How am I supposed to take your temperature?"

Spike did his best to grin at her. "I could think of a few ways."

"*And* you're delirious." She touched his forehead and was surprised to feel it a little more heated than normal. "Is it possible for vampires to get sick at all? I mean, a spell or something?"

"Of course, Pet. It's just rare is all."

"I don't know what to do. I can't call Giles. He'll know." She gave him a worried frown.

He reached out and patted her hand as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry, Pet. Just get Anya. She knows we're living together anyway. Maybe she can do something."

"Great idea. I'll go now." She went to get up but his hand tightened a little on her arm. "What is it?"

"Use my phone. Don't leave me." He gave her a helpless look. "When vampires *do* get sick it's serious."

Willow watched as the light that usually lit up his eyes was going dim. She grabbed the phone off his bedside table and dialled. "Anya. It's Willow." Pause. "Spike's sick, can you come over?" Pause. "Oh, thanks. I don't know what's wrong with him." Pause. "Yeah, he told me it's probably serious." Pause. "You don't know how much this means to me, us." She quickly corrected herself. "Sure. Got a pen and paper handy? It's 1699 Mariche Drive. Down near Crawford street. Yeah, it's pretty much a mansion. It's just a big, brown, brick house." Pause. "Just use the intercom beside the door when you're here. See you then." She hung up. "She'll be here as soon as possible."

Spike gave her hand a light squeeze as his eyes started closing. "Tired." He mumbled then drifted into slumber, still holding her hand.

Willow put her other hand on his forehead, he was definitely getting a temperature. Or, for a vampire at least. With a sigh she quickly went to her room and got a few books along with her laptop and ran back. Setting them up beside the bed at Spike's other mini-desk she started typing, hoping to find something that might tell her what he had.

*^*^*

Half an hour later there was a knock at the door and the intercom was turned on. "Willow?"

Willow jumped and reached for the intercom beside Spike's bed. "Anya? It's unlocked. Go to the elevator. It's straight ahead and to the left. We're on the first floor. I'll give you more directions from there. Spike won't let me leave for more than 10 seconds before he starts getting restless." She turned off her connection.

The door opened as Anya headed for the elevator with a few books in her hands. She walked in at hit '1' as the doors closed and the machine
started moving upwards. When the doors opened she pressed the intercom that was by the elevator. "Willow?"

"On your right, down the hall. It's second on the left." Then it was turned off again.

Anya shrugged and moved down to the second door on the left. When she walked in she gasped, her mouth dropping. "Oh god, he's getting colour."

"I-is that bad?" Willow asked with a look of concern on her face.

"Yeah, that's bad. What've you found?" Anya sat on the edge of the bed and felt the temperature that Spike had. "This is getting too far along.
We need ice. Lots of it. Uh, we need some blood. Fresh blood. We need, oh, what do we need?" The ex-demon paced as she tried to think of what
they would need to help the sick vampire in bed. "The bath. Fill the bath with ice and put him in it."

"I can't! He's naked!" Willow blushed.

"Then keep your eyes closed or do a dressing spell."

"Dressing spell?"

Spike started to wake up slowly as he began talking softly. He grabbed Willow's hand and looked up weakly. "If I... dust... before I can... tell you." He flopped his head back on his pillow as the energy he had started to fade. "I love you, Willow." He mumbled, drifting off into sleep again.

Willow blinked a few times. "Delirious." She said, looking up at Anya.

The ex-demon nodded. When Willow had performed the dressing spell and Spike was at least partly decent in his boxers they pulled him out of bed and basically dragged him into the bathroom, putting him in the tub. "He's going to hate waking up in here again." Anya stated. When the two girls looked at each other they both giggled.

The witch sobered herself. "Wait, this is serious. Spike can actually die from this."

"Not die. Vampire coma. You already know what can kill vampires. Sickness can't." Anya wiped her hands against her pants. "Ice."

Willow put her upturned palm out flat in front of her. Anya did the same as their other hands joined. They both blew across the top of their hands, a fine mist coming off the palms as they blew. As it settled on the tub and on Spike it started forming into ice. "That won't be enough, will it?"

"Turn on the taps. It'll work." Replied Anya. The red head turned on the cold water and watched it slip down through the holes between the ice. The water that touched the bottom of the tub turned to ice as well as the water on top of it, until it built up all around Spike's body.

"Okay, what now?"

"I'll get your computer and bring it in so you can keep on working while Spike's here. I'll do some research with you. Don't know what we're going to do about blood. Blood bags wouldn't be fresh enough and by the time I get back from Willy's it won't be as fresh. Not to mention that little toad keeps his blood even past the 'use by date'."

"There's a use by date on blood?"

Anya smiled at the girl and nodded. "I'll go get your laptop." She walked out of the bathroom and to Spike's room, quickly grabbing the laptop to take it to Willow. "If he starts shaking, it's normal. We're dramatically changing his temperature very quickly."

Willow looked up after looking up another site. "Thanks for doing this, Anya. I owe you one."

"And I intend on using that too." Another smile lit up her face. "Spike's the only one that knows what I'm going through. I need him around. Besides, I like to watch him and Buffy bicker. It's entertaining."

"You know, if it weren't for me being so... well, me, I would've taken D'Hoffryn up on his offer." Willow said conversationally.

"You should've. Being a vengeance demon is better than this. Believe me. You live a life of luxury." The ex-demon looked up. "Not to mention it's fun."

*^*^*

After four hours of research and watching Spike actually shivering in the bath Willow leant back in her chair. "Found it. Thank, goddess!" She stretched then put her eyes back on the computer screen.

Anya got up from the chair she'd brought in and looked over Willow's shoulder. "That's only half of it. Like I before, for each sickness a vampire can get there's a specific cure. One half of it is the same in every cure but the other half is what does it." She sighed, rubbing her eyes. "He looks a little better but we need the cure."

"What are we looking for? I don't even know!" Willow held her hands in her face as tears started forming. "I can't lose him. He's Spike. He's my friend."

"We all need him, some of us just don't want to admit it. Some don't even know it."

"Buffy doesn't need him." Willow snorted. "She's always trying to stake him."

"She doesn't try as much as she could and you know it." Anya replied as she picked up the book she had been reading before and started reading
the page she was on again. She took on a serious study face. "Willow, melt some of the ice. We need to check something."

"What are we checking?" Willow asked as she placed a hand on the ice in the tub.

Anya looked up for a moment. "If he has a mark."

When the water had melted slightly the witch asked, "What kind of mark?"

"There's a mark vampires get, it helps them figure out the cure before it's too late. I don't have the symbols here though we'll have to look that up on the 'net." Anya grabbed Spike's ankle and checked. "From what the book describes it's either the Muvia or the Branik."

"I'll check it out." Moving back to the computer and typed in the first symbols name. "Muvia has temperature, slight colouring, shakes, blood leakage. He leaked a little while ago from his nose."

A hand rubbed at Anya's chin. "Try the Branik. I have a feeling that wasn't the kind of leakage it was talking about. More along the lines of mouth or eyes."

"Ew, eyes?"

"That's how vampires cry. Blood tears."

Willow shook her head but typed anyway. "Temperature, colouring, shakes, deliriousness. That's the one."

"What's the cure?"

"Blood from three. It's practically mother, maiden, crone. We just need some blood from someone old, young and in between." She looked up at
Anya. "I'm young, you're old."

"Do we even know someone that's old but not *too* old?"

Willow paused, knowing an answer straight away. She dropped her head in her hands as they rested on her knees. "Giles."

"I'll call him."

*^*^*

Anya answered the door, waving Giles in, silently telling him to follow. He coughed awkwardly. "Anya, I know I owe you a lot because of your...
help with my problems but this is Spike."

"And he may die." She shot back at him with an warning glare as they entered he elevator. <Well, he'll go into a coma but he doesn't know that!> She quietly led him to the bathroom and sat back on her seat. Before ringing Giles she had grabbed a large bowl for them to mix their blood in and took it upstairs.

Now, as Giles entered the bathroom he saw why he was needed and understood his purpose. "Dear lord, he really is dying." He muttered, the news finally sinking in and his own need for the vampire's unlife becoming apparent to him. "Let's get started then, shall we?"

Willow had the bandages ready for everyone to put on straight after they had cut themselves. It would be close the  shoulder, easy to hide and easy to heal. The scars would be harder to see under sleeves anyway. Giles carefully cut into Anya's skin. The three of them turned in amazement as, once the smell had drifted to Spike, his demon shone forth, the control gone with his sickness. Willow held the bowl up as the blood trickled in. Willow bandaged the wound and was next to cut into Giles. "I'm really sorry." Willow muttered as she put the knife in far enough to draw blood. Anya had taken Willow's role. Holding the bowl up and then bandaging the old, or to her- young, man's arm.

Anya finally looked at Willow. "Ready?"

"He better not be faking this." The hacker grumbled, rolling up her sleeve.

Once the process was done and everyone was bandaged Willow tipped the bowl to Spike's mouth. The demon could smell it, Spike's eyes shot open as he waited for the bowl to tip further, pouring the blood into his mouth. "Maiden, *Father*, Crone." Willow smiled once the blood was gone.

"Hey!" Anya protested, her hands on her hips.

Spike sighed then shivered. "Bloody hell it's cold." He looked down and groaned. "I'm in the tub again. Just bloody great." He muttered, then his eyes closed for a long moment. "Feel better."

"Good." Willow sat on the edge of the tub and hugged him.

"Pet, I can't move my arms." He stated and Willow pulled away, melting the ice with a simple spell. The vampire looked up, seeing Giles standing there with a look of relief that he was trying to hide on his face. "He knows then I take it." A grin lit up his face as he looked back at Willow.

"Coma! That's what made us do it!" The young girl said, splashing the blond.

"'Ey! Don't do that unless you're prepared to get splashed back, Luv."

"Er, I think... Anya and I will be leaving now."

Anya started walking out but stopped in the doorway. "Glad you're back, Spike. I didn't know how long that cure would take to work. Willow, you
owe me."

Giles and Anya walked out but Giles stopped her a few steps from the door. "Has my debt been repaid?" He asked with hope.

"No. You have one more thing to do for me. You can't tell anyone that they live together or even that they are friends. You were never here. You don't know where Willow *or* Spike lives. You were at the Espresso Pump when this was happening so if Buffy asks where you were you can say you were there, wailing." The ex-demon headed for the door.

"Wailing?" He asked with a small pout. Anya smiled to show she was actually kidding. "You have been around Xander far too long. You've picked up his *bad* qualities." The doors closed.

*^*^*

That night.

"Spike?"

"Yes, Sweets?"

Willow smiled. "You *were* delirious right? You... didn't mean it did you?"

"I was delirious?" He asked, looking at her curiously. "Wait... what
did I say?"

<You loved me.> "Oh, nothing. Just... a few things. Nothing much."

"No, you wouldn't ask unless it was something important." He sat up further in his bed. "Tell me."

<Well, it won't be a lie. He said a lot of things.> "You wished we never bought Junior. You know, because he gets in your way. You said you wanted to be a fish because you liked swimming." She grinned at the last one.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Yeah, delirious. The only thing I remember before findin' myself in that bath was waking up with that mutt lickin' my face."

"His name is Spike junior. Call him that. I'm not changing the name."

"Pet..."

"No. You said I could name him so I did." Spike went to argue again. "Don't argue with me! I just helped save your unlife!" The vampire finally shut up. "Now open up." She pushed the spoon to his mouth.

"You *do* know how degrading this is for me don't you, Lu-uv?" He finished his sentence around the spoon that was shoved into his mouth.

"Shut up and eat your blood." She grinned, pulling the spoon out and watching him glare at her. He was about to say something when she but in again. "I know you're a master vampire and you shouldn't be treated like a baby. Let me mother you for once. I probably won't get another chance at doing this so let me."

Spike frowned. "You don't think you'll ever be a mother?"

"No, I just mean, since you don't get sick much. I'm not really the mothering type anyway. Like mother, like daughter, you know?"

"But you're not like your mum. You're here now aren't you? The hellmouth has changed you, Pet. Even I've seen that." The spoon silenced him again.

She smiled. "You've noticed."

He went to reply but the spoon was in his mouth. She quickly took it out. "You were wearin' fuzzy jumpers and all that kind of stuff back when I first met you. Of course you've changed. I'm still going to take you out for some *real* clothes though."

"You call jeans and two shirts real clothes? Spike, this is the *19*90's. Un-live in it."

He smirked at her. "No, Pet. Jeans are gonna stay around for a while yet. They've been around a while and in my experience they're gonna stay a little while longer. This is one thing you shouldn't fight with *me* over."

"Okay, okay. Just eat a while and get your strength back."

After the bowl was empty and she was about to go he grabbed her hand. "Pet, about what you said with you being a mother..." She looked expectantly at him. "If you could find a way to have kids with a vampire do you think you would?"

"Depends on the vampire." She gave him a small kiss on the forehead before walking towards the door. "If he even *wanted* me that would be a plus. It's not like I'm that biteable or anything." She turned and grinned at him. "And biting would definately be a part of it." Then she walked out of the room.

He let out a short, playful growl as he watched the door close before flopping his head back and snuggling down under the covers. "I really need this chip out of my head." He sighed, a smile on his face as he dreamt.
 

~Part 18~

"Willow, you're so beautiful." Willow blushed, holding her head down as his hand touched her cheek. "Run away with me?" He asked half serious and half jokingly

The girl looked up with a little shock. "B-but..."

"I know, I know... your house-mate." Mark flopped back against the car seat as he moved away from Willow.

"No." She gave him a serious look. "He doesn't own me." <Doo-doo-doo...> Her mind hummed as if it were trying to keep a secret. <What?> <You are wrong on so many levels.> The little voice in her head replied. <But he doesn't own me!> She replied, hoping it wasn't true. <You know it is.
You gave yourself over *and* knew it when he 'swept you off your feet' and into a damn fine house... that he let you pick. Not to mention a puppy!>  "Then run away with me. I don't really have anything left for me here." The boy urged.

Willow looked up at him sadly. "But I do. I have my friends, school, everything that's dear to me. Can't we just stay here?"

Mark sighed then gave her a small smile. "Sure." He leant in closely to her face. "Kiss me." He muttered before capturing her lips.

"Mark, no." She sighed, pushing him away slightly.

"Oh come on. Just a goodnight kiss." He smiled, moving in again and forcing their lips together.

"No! Mark! Stop it!" She desperately tried to push him away but her hands were suddenly captured in his tight grasp as he pushed his body down on top of hers. "No!" She screamed.

"Shut up." He growled. "Stop it!" He ordered as she tried to wriggled out from under him. "You hear me, slut? I said shut up!" He slapped her hard, the ring he was wearing cutting the flesh on her cheek and making it bleed. "I said...!" He began but was ripped out of the window of the car and was held up by his jacket to face a very pissed off looking, game faced Spike. "Hostile 17." He mumbled in disbelief.

"You're a commando punk?!" Spike growled angrily as his nostrils flared. He looked inside the car, noticing Willow's bruising and cut cheek and partly torn clothes. "You okay, luv?" The girl nodded slightly. He turned his attentions back to the boy. "We're going to have a talk, Boy." He growled. <And then I can rip you limb from limb.> He stormed around the side of the house and slammed the boy against a tree, stumbling backwards then he felt the burst of pain in his head. <Bloody hell. I can't even defend my woman! My woman. Hell yeah. My woman.> He looked up just as the boy tackled him, pushing him back against the side of the house. His head flew back, hitting against the brick of the house. Cursing, he held his head and grabbed the boy with his other hand, lifting him up by his throat. "Nobody 'urts Willow." He growled. "You can 'urt me, you can put a chip in my head and you can sure as hell hurt any of the other bloody humans on this planet... but when you hurt her, you are crossing the line." He roared, sinking his fangs into the boy's neck, slowing draining his life from him. When his heartbeat slowed to a stop Spike dropped the dead body in the bushes for any other demons that might pass to feed on. He looked up, wiping the blood from his mouth with his tongue. "Hell I just killed him." <Short circuit, Mate.> His 'good' side told him. The demon inside him rejoiced at the thought of being able to kill again as he stepped back around the building and saw Willow clutching at her clothes on the doorstep, hivering. His face fell. <What'm I going to do?> He thought, walking over and picking up her. Shock was what it was that let him do it. The witch was paralysed with it.

<If it wasn't for Spike... oh goddess. What if he'd been at Willy's or something? What if... oh, what if. What if Spike had died before. What if I couldn't stop him?> She started to sob into Spike's shoulder as he carried her up the stairs. He walked up to her door. "No." She spoke softly but her heard her. "Not my room. I can't sleep alone tonight." She looked up with teary eyes as he nodded and carried her into his room and set her down on the bed. He pulled her shoes off and removed his clothing down to his boxers and slipped in the bed, covering them with the blanket. She immediately moved over, clutching at him like her life was held in his hands. "Thank you." She mumbled before falling to sleep in his arms.

His heart ached. He couldn't tell her. She'd leave him. If he told her they might work it out. If he told her she might leave. If he waited until morning, have a good nights sleep to think it out, then it would be that much harder to tell her why he didn't say anything the night before. How was he supposed to say he'd kill her boyfriend that tried to rape her. How was he supposed to say he was the big bad again, the guy that left her boyfriend for the demons to eat. How was he supposed to tell her she meant everything to him and was scared to lose her, so scared he was willing to lie and kill to keep her. How was he supposed to sleep with all these thoughts going around in his head.

*^*^*

"Spike. What's wrong?" Willow asked sleepily as she lay in his arms. Flashes of what happened from the night before flew around in her mind.

He winced at her voice, not even noticing while he'd been thinking that he'd woken up. "We need to talk, Pet, and I'm not sure you're going to like it." He gave her a pained look. The vampire got out of bed. "I'll be downstairs." He said before picking up his jeans and shirt and leaving the room.

Willow let a few tears fall as a flurry of thoughts ran through her head. "He's going to leave me." She whispered to herself, the one thing she dreaded he would say the most.

*^*^*

Spike was sitting at the head of the dining table when she walked down the stairs. His hands were clasped together tightly, she could tell from the tiny drops of blood coming from them. <He really is leaving. He's leaving me when I need him.> A few more tears ran down her cheeks as she reluctantly took a seat opposite him at the other head of the table. "You're leaving, aren't you?" She asked in a whisper.

He looked up at her with a shocked sadness. "No, Pet, I'd never leave you. Especially not like this." He paused, both of them waiting in silence. The vampire's head was bowed, not wanting to see her face when he told her. "The chip... last night." He paused again. "The pillock threw me back against a wall, hard. It must've short circuited." A nervous tic started in his cheek at the pain that he knew must be in his hands. He wasn't concentrating on that pain though. His heart was in more pain than it. Telling his friend, best friend, that he could kill again... he didn't expect her to like it. Not at all. He kept his gaze down. "I killed him, Pet. He'd dead." He heard a gasp and scraping of a chair before the piece of furniture fell back. He dared a glance up, seeing Willow's pained and confused eyes as she let some more tears fall.

"You-you... last night. You d-didn't tell me." She sobbed. "You don't trust me, do you?"

"I know how you feel about me killing, Luv. I won't stop it. Not now that I've got it back after all this time."

"Not even for me?"

He felt his heart constrict. She couldn't ask him that. It would break his heart if he did and it would break hers if he didn't. "No." He said in a stern voice. "I can't go against what I am and you know it." His gaze shot up one more time and when he saw her eyes his grip tightened in his hands, more blood seeping through. "I'm *evil*." He ground out. "Don't you dare ask me to do that. I won't."

"You are evil, Spike, but I thought for a moment that you actually cared enough about me not to. Once again, I was wrong." She started crying again as she ran up to her room, slamming and locking the door behind her.

"Bloody hell." He roared, throwing the wooden bowl that was on the table at the wall, the impact making the wood crack. Spike junior walked out,
looking at Spike defiantly. "Go away, Mutt. I don't want to see you." He stood and walked towards the lounge room. Junior got in the door before Spike could slam it behind him.

<Go after her. It's a classic movie scene.> He jumped up to sit on the couch but didn't notice Spike distractedly going to sit. He yelped and jumped away when Spike almost sat on him.

"What the... Spike!" He grumbled angrily, his golden eyes warning him to leave. A mist swirled down through the ceiling and fell on Junior. The dog turned into a human. "Who the *hell* are you?" Spike jumped back.

"I'm Whistler." The tiny demon replied. "You're Spike. We're introduced. Great."

"So, you're our dog?" Spike couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. A demon, his dog.

"No, just needed a living body for me to be here to change from. Anyway, I'm here to set you straight on why the chip was destroyed." He sat on
the couch.

"I've been a good little boy and Santa came early?" Spike asked sarcastically.

"You're worse than that Xander guy." He said, sitting. "Sit. Please." He 'offered' Spike his own couch to join him on. Spike gave him a look, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he remained standing. "Suit yourself." He leant back on the sofa, looking at the vampire and thinking of how he was supposed to say what he was sent to say. "Spi- oh, wait." He coughed. "Hairball. Okay, so, Spike. Do you know why the chips gone?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "If I knew you wouldn't need to be here, right?"

"I guess. I'm here to set a few rules. If you don't abide by them... the chip comes back. This is a little gift from the Powers That Be. You have to play nice when it comes to that strong one."

"Strong one? The slayer?" Whistler nodded. "Oh, no. You're that riddles guy that Peaches knows, aren't you?" Whistler smiled and nodded again.
"Just bloody great. The poof and now me. Okay, tell me 'oh wise one'." He did a mock 'mighty' gesture at the demon and then waited for him to
speak again.

"That girl you're with. Nature girl."

Spike smirked. Well, Willow was a name of a tree. Trees are from nature. <I think too much.> "Willow. Yeah. What about 'er?"

"She's your balance. Your... well, chip. Just... not as binding."

"She's going to stop me from killing?" Another nod. "Bollocks."

Whistler stood again, approaching the vampire. "Spike, you've gotten the chip taken away so you can take care of yourself. Defend against humans
if need be. The earth, lovely place, if getting crowed. Too crowed. Even for humans likings. The Powers, they want you to do a little for them here and there. They want you to weed their garden."

"Jolly good. I'm the newest Gardening Tom. Where's my hoe and where's my waterin' can? Let's get that soil ship shape, 'eh?" He said, going into
character as he tried to stop being sarcastic.

Whistler just looked at him, an amused expression on his face. "Okay, I'll start again." He said, taking a breath. <I'm talking to a child!> "Spike, your chip, it's for a reason. Willow, you, for a reason. We need you on our side and unless you do what we say you're getting the chip back. You weed for us."

"I kill the bad guys?"

"Oh thank you. That was much easier." Whistler said with relief, looking to the ceiling, talking to the higher-ups. He looked back at Spike and
continued. "Spikey, my boy, you can kill and you can defend. It's your job. You help those little Scoobies and all that and you can keep the chip out of your way. You kill any of them and we find another way to torture you."

"'Ey, wait a friggin' minute. I thought you just said I'd get the chip back."

"I did. Then. Until I was corrected."

"So what is it now?"

"You're going to take the boys down."

The blond was confused. That little demon had practice of how to royally piss off someone. "The boys in blue?" He asked in a fake sweet voice. "I
don't kill coppers. Tend to get bullets in me. Hard to get out without drinking the town dry of it's liquor. Got me?"

"No, the boys in green." He said, giving the vampire a look.

"The Initiative?"

"They're evil."

Spike snorted. "You figured this out before or after they started capturing demons on the streets."

"No, that part was fine. It was the capturing humans that did it."

The vampire's eyes went wide, his mouth dropping. "Humans? Like... heartbeat and breathing?"

"Yeah. The boys that got you don't know about it. Not even the slayer's boy. This goes higher than him. They have a special team for that. So,
where's Nature girl these days?" Then Whistler slowly turned back into the dog and the mist drifted back up to the ceiling again.

"Bloody fucking hell." He growled, running towards the door. "The watcher. 'E'd know what to do." He thought as he ran to the garage and got into the DeSoto. He hoped he wasn't too late.

*^*^*

The door burst open to Giles' house. It was research night but everyone was talking about why Willow wasn't there. All eyes turned to see a
dishelved Spike. "She's gone. Willow's gone." He stated.

"How would you know even if she was?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"They were supposed to meet up." Anya but in before Spike could tell.

"Yes, er, something about Willow needing his help for a spell. Some information about Angel to try and make the soul permanent, wasn't it Spike?" Giles asked, giving the vampire an expectant look.

"Yeah. Soul boy wants to stay soulful. She wasn't there. I checked everywhere."

"And *you're* worried because...?" Buffy asked, standing and walking towards him.

Spike glared at her. Here she was asking why he was worried when they should've been out looking for Willow. That's it. His temper was gone. He went game face, seeing Buffy give him a smug look that she lost when he slammed her up against Giles' wall by her throat and lean in close to her face. "Get off my back and your head out of Farm Boy's arse long enough to *care* about your 'friends' would you, Slutty?" He growled at her.

"Spike?" Xander yelped. "Spike with fangs?"

"Congratulations, Spike." Anya nodded towards him. The vampire smiled at her.

"Yes, Spike, congratulations. Please keep your fangs to yourself, would you? Remember, I helped save your life." Giles said calmly as he sat back in his armchair and took a bite of a cookie that was on a plate on the coffee table.

"What?" Both Xander and Buffy shrieked.

Spike dropped the slayer and headed over to the lounge room where Giles and Anya were sitting. "We need to find her. That Whistler guy dropped
in for a visit. Said I lost the chip so I could help take down the Initiative. Said they were evil or something. They aren't just catching demons. They have a special team that takes humans too."

Giles' mouth dropped, the biscuit in his hand fell down onto his lap. Anya's eyes widened. "You think they have Willow? Oh, she really owes me now." The girl mumbled as she stood. "We have to go in. I can do a few spells but I can't remember too many. Giles, we're going to need some spell books. Spike, get some weapons. In that trunk there." She pointed to Giles' trunk. The two men went to do their jobs, Giles going into his spare room to find his special spell books, and Giles to the closet to find a large bag to put the weapons in, as she walked upstairs to Giles' room, leaving Xander and Buffy alone downstairs. They were still frozen where they were when everyone returned. "Buffy, Willow's in trouble. Even *I* can feel it."

"I can too." Giles added.

"Must've been that spell on Spike."

"Well, that's all fine and good. I can feel her too so let's *go*!" Spike hissed as he headed for the door after throwing most of the trunks contents into the bag he'd found.

The three of them walked out the door with Xander and Buffy trailing along in a daze behind them. As they approached the back entrance to the Initiative they heard a scream die out not far off... and it was Willow.
 

read the sequal 'Masks'

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